Fire department's administrative supervisor charged

UPDATED: 3:19 p.m.

WILDWOOD - A former Wildwood Fire and EMS Department employee accused of using department funds for her personal benefit has been arrested for the alleged actions, authorities said.

Angela Morado, 41, of Ocean Spray Drive, Cape Carteret, was arrested by the Carteret County Sheriff's Office March 16 and charged with three counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses, according to a news release on the arrest.

Morado is accused of obtaining $18,345 in goods and services from the Wildwood department while she was employed as a firefighter/emergency medical technician, the sheriff's office said.

The incidents occurred from October of 2006 through December 2008.

"There was a changeover in personnel in December 2008 and the new chief discovered some discrepancies in administrative paperwork and informed the president of the Board (of Directors)," said sheriff's office Detective Phillip Morris. "The board looked into the matter and then brought the information to the sheriff's office in January and that's when we began an investigation."

Morris said Morado was working at the department as an EMT/firefighter and was given duties as an administrative assistant. One of her responsibilities was paying bills, which is how she was able to perform the alleged acts, he said.

"She allowed the department to pay for goods and services that were for her personal benefit," Morris said.

The goods and services included items such as a cell phone and computer equipment, he said.

Morado was reportedly terminated from her job with the department in January, authorities said.

Staff writer Jannette Pippin can be reached at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 910-382-2557.