Former Terlton Fire Chief Jailed On Embezzlement Charges

Dee Duren, NewsOn6.com

DEMING, New Mexico -- The former Terlton volunteer fire chief and his girlfriend have been arrested on felony embezzlement charges in New Mexico. Charles Badgwell and Janet Kirby are being held in the Luna County Detention Center, according to Pawnee County Sheriff Mike Waters.

The pair was arrested Friday.

Badgwell is suspected of embezzling money from Terlton Volunteer Fire Department's bank account. Warrants were sworn out for his arrest last week.

9/14/2011 Related Story: Terlton Fire Department Missing Money And Its Chief

The Sheriff can't say how much money is alleged to have been taken, but he said the amount changes every day.

"Every time we look, we find more missing," Sheriff Waters said.

Badgwell is being held on $100,000 and Kirby on $10,000 embezzlement bonds. Badgwell was convicted in the '80s for possession of stolen property and in 2002 for false impersonation.