Goins charged with felony theft

The executive director of the Downtown Pasco Development Authority has been charged with first-degree theft for embezzling about $90,000.

Michael A. Goins, 36, of Richland, was charged Thursday with a Class B felony after admitting to stealing from the downtown group between July 2013 and December of this year, according to the charging document filed by Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant. The charge includes aggravating factors including that the theft involved a monetary loss much greater than is typical for the offense, multiple incidents and that Goins used a position of trust, confidence or fiduciary responsibility to commission it.

Goins told police that he bilked money from the nonprofit, which is partially funded with taxpayer dollars, to pay for personal bills and airplane tickets, according to court documents filed Wednesday. He said he moved money from one account to another so it would go unnoticed.

Court documents showed Goins tried to commit suicide prior to his arrest, which led to police finding out troubling details about his past, including that he was once listed as a missing person in New Jersey shortly before being hired in Pasco. He also confessed to stealing money from a retirement home there, and to owing about $26,000 in back child support.

Goins is in Franklin County jail on a $100,000 bond. A hearing is planned Dec. 8.

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Goins charged with felony theft."