Ex-Nature Center manager charged with fundsí misuse

A former City of Asheville employee was charged last Thursday with obtaining property by false pretenses in using funds intended for the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

Former Nature Center Manager James Patrick Lance, 39, of Etowah allegely made unauthorized purchases totaling $7,278.73.

According to warrants, Lanceís purchases included electronics, clothing and personal items using a credit card supplied by the Friends of the Western North Carolina Nature Center, a non-profit organization that raises money on behalf of the center.

Lance left employment with the City of Asheville in February 2007 to become director of the Henderson County Parks and Recreation Department. He left that job earlier this month.

The monthly credit-card bill was paid for by the Friends of the Nature Center from an account of accumulated state grant funds.† The money was intended for the zoo.

The charges and investigation were triggered by an administrative assistant with the Friends group, who reportedly noticed irregularities in credit-card statements during a routine financial audit, and alerted the staff of the city Parks and Recreation Department. At that point, law-enforcement officials were notified, resulting in an investigation by Asheville police and the State Bureau of Investigation. The city owns the nature center.

ìThe City of Asheville takes questions about the administration of public funds extremely seriously,î City Manager Gary Jackson stated in a news release. ìWe have been cooperating with the Asheville Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation to ensure this matter is fully investigated.î

Jackson also noted the city is completing its own financial audit of the nature centerís books through an external auditor. The audit was launched when the city became aware of the questionable charges. The report is expected to be completed sometime this week.

The audit is being conducted to ensure that no more money is missing and that the centerís books now are being property handled, police noted.

Lance was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $15,000 secured bond.

Man charged with stealing
24 beers, $20 in break-in

An Asheville man arrested by city police last Thursday was charged with breaking into an Asheville restaurant and stealing beer and cash.

Donald Gene Cline Jr., 41, was charged with breaking and entering and larceny. He allegedly stole ì24 assorted beers and $20 in U.S. currency,î warrants noted.

Cline was being held at the Buncombe County jail in lieu of a $1,000 bond.

Man in chase turns self in
after triggering lockdown

WEAVERVILLE ó Timothy Cole, who was accused of fleeing from police and causing a brief lockdown of two Buncombe County schools, turned himself in on the night of May 22, according to Weaverville police.

Cole, 27, was charged with felony speeding to avoid arrest, reckless driving, driving in excess of 15 mph over the speed limit and running a red light. He also was charged with having a fictitious tag and driving while his license was revoked.

The chase, which spanned nearly three miles, started before noon May 21 at a BP gas station on Merrimon Avenue. It ended in a vacant lot on Buncombe School Road, where Cole allegedly abandoned his van by running into the woods, police noted.

The chase reportedly reached speeds of at least 70 mph in a 55-mph zone.

After Cole fled from his van, officials at Windy Ridge Elementary and North Buncombe Middle schools locked their exterior doors briefly.

UNCA police probe larceny
at the Botanical Gardens

UNC Asheville campus police are investigating a larceny from a motor vehicle in a parking lot at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, which was reported at 3:31 p.m. May 20.

Other recent UNCA crime reports include:

ï A burglary by forcible entry at Zeis Hall construction site, reported at 7:11 a.m. May 14. The incident still is being investigated.

ï Three separate larcenies on campus, all of which still are being investigated. The larcenies were reported at 5:30 p.m. May 12 and 4:55 p.m. May 10, both at South Ridge Hall; and at 4:30 p.m. May 10 at Mills Hall.

ï Indecent exposure and possession of alcohol below age 21 at University Heights, reported at 2:30 a.m. May 9. The incident was cleared by arrest. No other details were available.