Former Lakewood Fire Chief Christopher Thomson avoided prison time despite embezzling over $100,000 from a nonprofit firefighters association, receiving probation with jail conditions focused on restitution rather than punishment.
Key Takeaways
- Former Lakewood Fire Chief Christopher Thomson was sentenced to six years of probation with one year of conditional jail time for embezzling $111,327.49 from the Lakewood Fire Department Association.
- Thomson must repay $128,339.49 in restitution and faces a four-year prison term if he violates probation or fails to make monthly payments.
- He pleaded no contest to seven counts including identity theft, theft in a business setting, and forgery committed over four years while serving as the association’s treasurer.
- Judge Michael Judge reluctantly chose probation over immediate imprisonment to ensure the nonprofit would begin receiving restitution payments.
- The embezzlement has severely damaged community trust in the volunteer fire department, with current leaders suggesting the actual theft may exceed the documented amount.
Public Servant Prioritizes Personal Gain Over Community Safety
Christopher Thomson, who simultaneously served as Lakewood’s Fire Chief and treasurer of the Lakewood Firefighters Association from 2020 to 2024, systematically diverted funds raised through community donations and fundraising efforts. Investigation revealed he engaged in 231 unauthorized transactions over nearly five years, converting $111,327.49 of association funds for personal use. Despite initial claims of taking only $5,000, forensic accounting uncovered a scheme where he falsified financial reports for three consecutive years to hide his ongoing theft.
“Thomson admitted to engaging in the above due to financial hardship, attempted to dissuade report of this to law enforcement, and offered to pay back money stolen, demonstrating knowledge the above was forbidden and of Thomson’s intent to engage in the above on his own behalf,” criminal complaint
The depth of Thomson’s deception extended to forging signatures on checks and creating entirely fictitious memos to justify payments. Investigators found regular transfers to personal accounts and payments for cell phone bills and vehicle expenses. The association’s vice president documented a troubling pattern of escalating theft: $18,874 in 2021, $25,557 in 2022, and $39,266 in 2023, showing not a momentary lapse but a calculated, worsening abuse of position.
Justice System Prioritizes Restitution Over Punishment
Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Michael Judge faced what he described as a sentencing “puzzle,” balancing appropriate punishment against the practical need to secure repayment for the nonprofit organization. Despite stating that Thomson deserved prison time, the judge ultimately imposed six years of probation with one year of conditional jail time, citing the need for the defendant to make restitution payments immediately rather than after serving time.
“This man should go to prison, If I send him to prison, there’s no acceptance of accountability or responsibility to at least begin some payments to the association. Therefore, reluctantly, this court will find that probation would not depreciate the offenses that occurred hundreds of times,” said Judge Michael Judge
The sentencing includes significant accountability measures despite avoiding immediate imprisonment. Thomson is permanently prohibited from holding any position involving bookkeeping or financial responsibility. If he violates probation or fails to make consistent payments toward the $128,339.49 restitution amount, he faces a four-year prison term. As of November 13, 2024, Thomson had not returned any stolen money or financial documents to the organization.
Community Trust Shattered by Betrayal
Current Lakewood Fire Chief Eric Johnson expressed profound disappointment in his predecessor’s actions, revealing that Thomson’s theft likely extended beyond documented amounts through direct skimming from fundraising activities. The betrayal has damaged the department’s standing in the community at a time when volunteer fire departments nationwide already struggle with recruitment, funding, and public support.
“I worked right alongside him to raise money, sole purpose for serving the community, for our fire department, and what he reported as being actual is far less than what was raised. Allegedly probably took funds straight off the coffers,” said Eric Johnson, Current Lakewood Fire Chief
Thomson offered a perfunctory apology during sentencing, claiming financial hardship drove his criminal behavior despite holding a trusted leadership position that typically comes with compensation. His explanation that embarrassment prevented him from seeking legitimate financial help from family rings hollow against the calculated nature of his crimes, which involved hundreds of separate theft actions and elaborate cover-up efforts spanning multiple years.
“It wasn’t something that was a single transaction. It spanned years, and obviously this kind of coming out to the community, it is a violation of trust, And it’s a violation of the faith that the members of the community placed in the department to make good use of their contributions,” said Hannah Schuchart
