07/21/08 Prineville

Following an Oregon State Police (OSP) investigation, the Crook County District Attorney's Office announced the indictment and arrest of JAMES HOWARD MOLE SR, age 54, from Prineville, on three counts of Theft in the first degree issued July 17, 2008 by a Crook County Grand Jury. MOLE agreed to turn himself in voluntarily and was taken into custody July 18, 2008.

MOLE is scheduled to be arraigned August 20th, 2008 at 1:30 p.m., in the Crook County Circuit Court.

The charges related to conduct which occurred between January 2007 and June

2008 allege the ongoing theft of fuel from the City of Prineville in an amount that nearly reached $14,000. MOLE was employed by the City Of Prineville on February 22, 2003 and was later promoted to Public Works Director until his dismissal in January of 2007.