ABC 40 KRHD-TV - Bryan/College Station News and Weather | Three Iola Volunteer Fire Department members charged with theft

By: Omar Lewis

IOLA- Three members of the Iola Volunteer Fire Department, including the former chief have now been arrested and charged with theft after an Audit revealed nearly $40,000 was used for personal expenses.  

On January 25th The Grimes County Sheriff's Office received a tip that funds were being used inappropriately and during the county auditors investigation, authorities discovered three members of the Iola Volunteer Fire Department -- Chief Earl Sword, along with Wanda Sword (the departments accountant who is also the chief's mother), and the department's secretary, Samantha Kimich (who is the sister to the former fire chief) had used the money for personal gain.
 
Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell said, "there was enough evidence to indicate charges. Checks that were written and the auditors office did some checking and traci9ng and when things don't add up flags start flying."
 
Sword resigned as chief after nearly four years of duty. Tuesday night an emergency meeting was held to elect a new board members.  New members in the department say they were stunned. 
 
Chris Roig, the department's newly elected board president, said "every one of our members in our department was very shocked, disappointed, and upset that this all happened."

The investigation revealed that the mother, Wanda Sword, wrote her son and daughter  checks to look like reimbursements, claiming they would eventually pay the money back. Fire department money was spent on things like a new roof for a house, a motor for a car, an outdoor swimming pool, along with clothes.
 
"To sum it up if its not fire department type equipment what was the need for it.  When things don't add up flags start flying," said Sheriff Sowell.  
 
 
The new board members at the volunteer fire department say they are ready to make some changes so that something like this never happens again.
 
 
"We want this to be a very open door type of department right now our image is tarnished because of the actions of few, but we have every intention and every desire to want to make this department a better department and move forward as quickly as possible," said Roig. 
 
 A step in the right direction of a rebuilding process that only time will heal. 
 
"Will there be some scrutiny? You bet there will and time heals all wounds," said Sheriff Sowell.

The Grimes County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is just starting and more individuals may be arrested. All three family members charged have bonded out of jail on 15,000 bonds.

The Iola Fire Department elected Michael Kimich to be their new vice president. Michael Kimich is the husband of Samantha Kimich the former secretary, who was charged along with her brother and mother with theft. Michael Kimich also is a convicted felon after stealing eight heads of cattle.