Thirty-eight thousand and eight hundred dollars.
That’s how much Assistant Chief David Tharp was able to embezzle out of an obscure account inside the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority over a three-year period.
It was an abuse of power, a violation of public trust, and a felony.
One that can carry years in prison.
But an ABC15 investigation found that once Tharp’s theft was internally discovered, fire department and Prescott-area law enforcement officials kept his case quiet from the public and ensured the assistant chief would receive little punishment.
Tharp got no jail or prison time.
He was also allowed to keep a six-figure pension despite a state law that terminates retirement benefits if an official commits a serious felony on the job, records show.
The judge who sentenced Tharp expressed concern about the plea deal.
“Mr. Tharp, you haven't served any jail time, and you're not going to, though that is not an easy decision to make. I think it would certainly be warranted,” said Yavapai Superior Court Judge Michael McGill.
McGill added, “If we have someone who runs a governmental agency that steals from that agency and it goes unpunished, that only sends messages to other people that they can get the slap on the wrist as well.”
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Tharp was convicted in December 2023.
Sources told ABC15 about the scandal after reporting a series of stories about a separate high-ranking Central Arizona Fire official. Insiders believe the way Tharp’s case was handled – quickly and quietly -- further highlights how high-ranking officials in the Prescott area protect each other.
THE EMBEZZLEMENT
Tharp and his defense attorney did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
But ABC15 obtained police reports, court records, and internal fire department documents related to the case.
Tharp was Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority’s assistant chief of administration, putting him in charge of department finances. From 2020 to 2023, he transferred money at least three dozen times from a “CAFMA PayPal” account into a personal one, records show.
The transactions ranged from a few hundred dollars to $5,000.
According to written statements given to police by CAFMA officials, Tharp had sole access to the account and was able to avoid suspicion during audits and financial reviews.
The following is a statement given by Tharp during the investigation.
In August 2023, while Tharp was on leave for mental health issues, some CAFMA officials began asking questions about the PayPal account, records show. When he returned from leave in September, Tharp admitted to embezzling money from the account.
The department launched an internal investigation and notified the Prescott Valley Police Department, which opened a criminal investigation.
Tharp was fired and charged with a Class 3 felony count of theft.
Tharp, who cooperated with the investigation and repaid the money before his sentencing, pleaded guilty within three months of the start of the case, records show.
Before the judge, Tharp expressed remorse and took “full responsibility.”
“I’m embarrassed for what I did, but also for the negative light I put on the organization and our profession,” Tharp said in court.
SPECIAL TREATMENT?
Tharp was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.
In addition to avoiding any jail or prison time, he was allowed to keep his retirement benefits and pension, according to a plea agreement with the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office.
During sentencing, Tharp’s defense attorney stated that no one wanted to take it away.
“It’s not what the (CAFMA) board wanted. It’s not what anyone wanted, including the State,” attorney Glen Hammond told the judge.
Arizona statutes state, “if a member of a state retirement system or plan is convicted of or pleads no contest to an offense that is a class 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 felony and that was committed in the course of the member's employment as a public official or for a public employer, the court shall order the person's membership terminated and the person shall forfeit all rights and benefits earned under the state retirement system or plan.”
In a general statement, CAFMA did not answer ABC15’s specific questions about whether the department helped Tharp keep his pension, and the county attorney’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
State pension officials confirmed Tharp’s current pension is about $8,500 a month, or $102,000 a year.
ABC15 also discovered there was no Prescott-area news coverage of Tharp’s embezzlement. It appears none of the official agencies involved in the case issued any press releases or alerts for the public.
The Prescott Valley Police Department confirmed it did not put out anything but denied the lack of public notification had anything to do with Tharp’s position as an assistant chief.
A spokesperson told ABC15 that the department doesn’t usually issue press releases about financial crimes unless it’s a case where they’re looking for more victims, or it involved a “crazy amount of money.”
CAFMA and the county attorney’s office did not answer questions asking why their agencies didn’t notify the public as they do in other matters.
In a written response, Central Arizona Fire issued the following statement.
“On September 10, 2023, the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority became aware of potential financial misconduct involving an employee. The matter was reported to local law enforcement and an internal investigation was initiated. Following the investigation, the employee was terminated for misappropriation of funds. The organization was fully reimbursed, and the criminal matter has since concluded through the judicial process.”
Contact ABC15 Chief Investigator Dave Biscobing at Dave@ABC15.com.
