[email protected] The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 (850) 678-1080 TThhee BBaayy BBeeaaccoonn 14 Pages, 2 Sections, 4 Inserts Wednesday, March 7, 2012 50¢ UP N. Bay Fire bookkeeper arrested MING CO By Del Lessard $100,000, and fraud, uttering false During an annual audit of the Later that day, Miller confronted Beacon Staff Writer instruments, according to sheriff's North Bay Fire Control District, Banegas, who allegedly admitted tak- Thursday, 2:45 p.m. A North Bay Fire Department arrest reports. accountant Bill Nunnally, of the dis- ing the money without permission. bookkeeper who was fired last month Banegas, the district's former trict's outside auditing firm, Carr, Banegas allegedly told Miller that he Staff Sgt. Jimmy was arrested Feb. 28, for allegedly administrative assistant and book- Riggs and Ingram, alerted Fire Chief would write himself a check, take Macon of the Niceville stealing thousands in tax monies. keeper, was released on a $4,000 Joe Miller Jan. 11 that during his ini- Miller's signature stamp from Miller's Police Department will Ralph Banegas, 59, of 4493 W. bond and has an April 3 court date. tial examination of the district's office while the chief was out, stamp be the guest speaker in Parkwood Lane, Niceville, was The sheriff's arrest reports gave books he found that Banegas, the the check, and return the stamp. the teen space area of arrested by Okaloosa County sheriff's the following account (dates were chief's administrative assistant, wrote Banegas allegedly also admitted deputies on charges of grand theft, supplied to the Beacon by the fire several checks to himself totaling the Niceville Public Please see ARRESTED, page A-5 Library.