Nov 1, 2002 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

Bruce John Beard, a former financial analyst for the Fayette County commissioners, waived two preliminary hearings Thursday into charges alleging that he forged checks worth more than $6,000 from a restaurant and a check from the North Union Township volunteer fire department for $2,500. Beard, 40, of 58 E. Fayette St., Uniontown, waived charges of forgery, theft by deception and theft by unlawful taking before South Union Township District Justice Rick Vernon, and charges of forgery and theft by deception before North Union Township District Justice Deberah Kula.

Beard remains free on unsecured bond.

State trooper Jeffrey A. Fisher filed the complaints in both cases.

One complaint alleges Beard forged the signature of John Schiano, the owner of New York Pizza and Pasta in Cherry Tree Square, South Union Township, on 14 checks for a total of $6,197.37 and cashed them between June 21 and Aug. 2.

Schiano hired Beard to balance his financial books monthly and agreed to pay him $50 per month, according to an affidavit. On Aug. 2, Schiano discovered that the check amounts were more than what he agreed to pay and the signatures on the checks were not his.

The second complaint alleges that Beard forged the signatures of North Union Fire Chief Charles Robert Cooper III and department official Douglas Yohmen on a department check for $2,500 and cashed in Aug. 6.

Cooper hired the defendant to balance the department’s quarterly financial books. An Aug. 17 bank statement showed a $2,500 check made out to Beard. The check was not authorized and Cooper’s and Yohmen’s signatures had been forged, according to an affidavit.

The affidavits also say Beard admitted to forging and cashing the checks in both cases.

He worked for the commissioners from 2000 until this past September.