By Ed Larson
A water meter installer, formerly employed by the Rutland City Department of Public Works, has been arrested.
Paul Eric Voight, 51, of Castleton, became the subject of an investigation after Rutland City officials were informed of possible fraudulent activity. Voight, who had been in hundreds of homes and businesses in the city installing the new wifi monitored water meters, is alleged to have sold meter parts and covers to residents, obtaining checks under his name.
In a press release, Commander David LaChance of the Rutland City Police Department, advised that Voight was charged with embezzlement and grand larceny.
The investigation commenced in December of 2019 when city officials filed a theft report. It was reported that from September 2019 through November 2019, Voight was suspected of stealing city owned metal/brass on several occasions for his own profit and without city authorization, while working for the Department of Public Works.
During the investigation by Detective Shawn Maguire, it was determined that after Voight’s employment was terminated by the city he again fraudulently converted more city owned metal/brass to his own use by selling that property. The value of the city owned/metal brass was placed in excess of $8,600.
Voight was issued a citation to appear in Rutland Superior Court on Feb. 24 at 12:30 p.m. to answer to the charges.
