The district attorney seeks a criminal complaint because he says Moran sent a fire truck to a phony call at the mall.
Holyoke Deputy Fire Chief William P. MoranSPRINGFIELD – A show-cause hearing that was scheduled for Friday was continued to Aug. 29 regarding a request for a criminal complaint against William P. Moran, former acting fire chief.
The hearing will be at 9 a.m. in Springfield District Court, said David P. Hoose, Moran’s lawyer.
Hampden District Attorney Mark. G. Mastroianni requested the complaint on June 27 after he said Moran, a deputy chief who is on paid administrative leave, sent a fire truck on a fake call to the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside June 15.
The annual salary of a deputy chief is $68,775.
Hoose declined to comment on the criminal complaint Mastroianni seeks against Moran.
At a show-cause hearing, parties appear before a clerk-magistrate who decides whether to issue the criminal complaint.
Mastroianni’s complaint application charges Moran with two misdemeanors: communicating false information to an emergency response facility and being a disorderly person.
If convicted, the charge of communication of false information could carry a maximum sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison or a fine of $1,000.
The law also requires the defendant make restitution to the emergency response services provider for any costs, damages or losses.
Lawyer Jeffrey S. Morneau, who had represented Moran before the Holyoke Fire Commission regarding the fake phone call, said at a July 14 commission hearing that Hoose was representing Moran on the criminal matter.
Mastroianni said in a voice-mail message Moran’s lawyer requested that the hearing be continued so he could familiarize himself with the case. But Mastroianni said he urged that the court ensure the hearing occurs soon.
“That was the request of the DA’s office, to make sure it happened in August,” Mastroianni said.
En route to the June 15 bogus call, a traffic accident occurred among four vehicles that were going in the opposite direction of the fire truck and had stopped. One of the drivers was treated at the hospital and released.
The Fire Commission is a three-member, unpaid board appointed by the mayor. The commission has sole authority to hire, discipline and fire the chief.
The commission voted unanimously June 17 certify a decision that Chairwoman Priscilla F. Chesky made a few days earlier to put Moran on paid administrative leave after the fire truck was unnecessarily sent to the mall. Deputy Fire Chief Robert Shaw has been acting chief since then.
Moran worked on the 2009 campaign of Mayor Elaine A. Pluta and Moran’s brother, Timothy J. Moran, who also is a deputy fire chief, was Pluta’s campaign manager. Pluta has said she is leaving the disciplining of William Moran to the Fire Commission and won’t try to influence the commission.
The Fire Commission has taken at least two other votes in executive session regarding William Moran that Chesky has said she is unable to discuss because they were personnel matters.