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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 10, 2006 Gold Hill police chief gets indicted He faces charges of felony theft and criminal trespass in Union County By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — Police Chief Dean Muchow is facing a charge of felony theft in Union County Circuit Court stemming from a January 2002 incident according to court records. In addition to the felony charge, Muchow is accused of criminal trespass, a class "C" misdemeanor. Both charges were filed on Dec. 27 in Union County District Court. Muchow was the police chief for the city of Union before his employment with the Gold Hill Police Department. A Union County court clerk declined to send a copy of the indictment to the Mail Tribune on Monday. Details of the pending charges are unclear at this time because officials at the Union County District Attorney’s office and police department did not immediately return phone calls Monday. Advertisement Muchow’s arraignment hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m. today in Union County Circuit Court, was canceled. Although Muchow is aware of the charges, he has not yet been officially served, circuit court officials said. Gold Hill Mayor Sherry Young and council members Donna Silva, Gus Wolf, Mike Hicks and Jan Fish expressed shock when informed of the charges against Muchow after last night’s council meeting. "I need more information before I comment," said Young. Muchow was not present at the council meeting and unavailable for comment. Council members said he was attending training sessions out of town. This is the second time Muchow will face charges brought by Union County District Attorney Martin Birnbaum. Muchow was indicted in September 2004 on misdemeanor charges including official misconduct and theft — after resigning as chief of police in Union. Two of the charges were dismissed, and Muchow was found not guilty on two charges of official misconduct in a short jury trial. "It took the jury less than 20 minutes to find me innocent," said Muchow, in an earlier interview with the Tribune. "I actually got hugs and kisses from some of the gals in the jury." Muchow told Gold Hill council members he was facing indictment prior to being hired in December 2004. Muchow’s contract stated he would resign if found guilty of the charges in Union. Muchow said last July that it was a moot point. "If I’d been found guilty, I would have lost my license (to be a police officer)." Earlier this year, Muchow faced questions from Gold Hill council members regarding his credit card expenditures. City officials temporarily rescinded employee credit cards after Muchow’s card showed unusually large amounts were spent on restaurant charges, gas expenses and gift charges at local hardware stores. Muchow said the food and gifts were given to volunteers for their help in remodeling the city’s former library into a police station. Meals were also purchased for council members and police reserves, he said. Muchow said he was unaware the charges — which included alcoholic beverages — would be a problem, stating he had not been given a copy of the city’s spending policy. Muchow offered to reimburse the city with an $800 personal check. The city returned Muchow’s check and had him reimburse the city for only a portion of the Visa charges. Court records show two Union county judges have recused themselves from Muchow’s pending charges. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations dvd-r Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Advertisement s