Forest Heights mayor indicted

Some in community welcome embezzlement charges against Spires

‘‘It’s been a long time coming,” Larry Stoner said of Spires’ indictment. Stoner, president of the Forest Heights Town Council, is serving as the acting mayor and has been serving in that capacity since Spires was originally suspended on Sept. 7. ‘‘His best bet would have been to resign, but he didn’t care about this town. He just wanted to be mayor.”

A Prince George’s County Court handed down a seven count indictment against Spires last week on charges of embezzling public funds and forging a Town Council resolution allowing him to seek reimbursement of more than $21,000 in personal legal expenses. In a statement released by the office of the state prosecutor, Robert Rohrbaugh, a Prince George’s County grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Spires charging him with theft, embezzlement, misconduct in office, submitting a counterfeit invoice, forgery uttering and attempt to commit theft. The indictment alleges the crimes to have occurred between the dates of July 14, 2006 and Feb. 7 of 2007.

Speaking through his attorney, Spires denied committing any of the offenses.

‘‘The prosecutor is relying upon the word of council members who have been found by the court to have unlawfully removed the mayor. The prosecutor is now taking sides in a small town fight based on records which are in shambles and the word of the mayor’s political opponents,” said Spires’ attorney Paul R. Sciubba in a prepared statement.

Prior to his indictment, Spires had been reinstated on Dec. 4, after being suspended on Sept. 7 at a special town council session where allegations of possible illegal activities were first introduced. A judge ruled that his initial suspension by Town Council members was improperly conducted and Spires was reinstated, but by title only.

E-mail Carla Peay at cpeay@gazette.net.

Spires Timeline

Jan. 20, 2006 – Forest Heights town councilman Myles Spires is sworn in as Mayor when Joyce Beck is forced to step down due to a court ruling.

Sept. 7, 2006 – Spires is suspended by the Forest Heights town council amid allegations he misused and mishandled town funds.

Sept. 28, 2006 – A municipal judge upholds Spires suspension, barring him from entering the building.

Nov. 15, 2006 – The town council passes amendments to replace Spires in a special election scheduled for Jan. 24.

Dec. 4, 2006 – Spires is reinstated as Mayor by a circuit court judge who ruled that the town did not have the four votes needed for a legally convened quorum. The special election scheduled for Jan. 24 is voided.

Feb. 21, 2007 – Spires appears in court on criminal charges of embezzlement.

Feb. 22, 2007 – Spires is indicted on charges of embezzling public funds.