Home Abstract and Title Company president faces theft, obstructing justice charges
In today's Standard Examiner we read that $325,000 that was paid to Home Abstract Title Company for the purchase of the old Valley School Property last October never made it into the hands of Weber School District.
Here is the Scott Scwebke story in its entirety:
From the story, we read,
The president of Home Abstract and Title Company Inc. has been
charged amid allegations that he kept about $325,000 that should have
been given to Weber School District for its sale of property last year
to the city of Huntsville.
Russell Charles Maughan, 58, is scheduled to make an initial
appearance in 2nd District Court on July 11 for theft and obstructing
justice, both felonies. The charges against Maughan follow an Ogden
police investigation.
The business, next door to the Weber County Attorney’s Office, was
closed about a month ago by its underwriter, Old Republic National Title
Insurance Company, based in Minneapolis, Tammy Greening, an examiner
for the Utah Insurance Department, said Thursday.
And further,
The state and police investigations stem from the Weber School
District’s sale last year to Huntsville of about 6 acres of vacant land
where a Huntsville school once stood. The property is between First and
Second streets across from Huntsville Park.
Huntsville paid $325,000 to Home Abstract for the property in October
2011, which in turn was to provide the funds to Weber School District,
said Jenna Holt, who is Huntsville’s attorney. The check cleared and
Huntsville received the deed to the property, but Home Abstract
reportedly didn’t provide the sale proceeds to the school district.
Jeff Stephens, superintendent of Weber School District, said the
district’s business department unsuccessfully attempted to obtain the
funds from Home Abstract.
“There were a series of misleading statements (about the status of
the funds) from the president of Home Abstract that delayed our
reporting it to police,” Stephens said, adding the district has had a
lengthy relationship with Home Abstract.
The funds from the Huntsville school property sale were to be used by Weber School District to fund a capital project.
Stephens said: “We will do everything we can to protect taxpayer dollars.”
It looks like White Collar crime so prevalent in other areas has hit Ogden Valley.
