Wellsburg Fire Chief Facing Criminal Charges

The leader of Wellsburg’s fire department has been charged with falsifying accounts established for proceeds from fundraisers held for the volunteer company.
A case against Scott Kins, 44, of Wellsburg is pending in Brooke County Magistrate Court following an investigation by the West Virginia State Police.
Because the charge is a felony offense, it may be bound over to the 1st Judicial Circuit Court.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Kins, a state trooper questioned him about accounts at three banks established for income generated for the department.
State Police said Kins stated he had been responsible for more than 20 drawings and bingos since he became chief in August 2021 and some of the proceeds were collected through an online payment application.
Police said Kins told them such funds were placed in a savings account in his name and later transferred to the department’s general fund or to his personal checking account so he could purchase future drawing prizes.
When asked if there were any instances of money raised for the department being used for other purposes, Kins allegedly told police $500 had been used to build a handicap accessible ramp at his home and that was the only time.
Kins allegedly confirmed the expense was never documented in the department’s records.