CHELMSFORD OFFICER PLEADS INNOCENT IN DARE THEFTS

CAMBRIDGE - A Chelmsford police officer pleaded innocent yesterday to
charges that he stole at least $30,000 from his department's DARE
program over two years a significant portion of which a prosecutor
says he spent on gambling.

Prosecutors say Officer Michael Horan pilfered money from DARE
fund-raisers, including an annual basketball game between Chelmsford
police officers and students and teachers at the McCarthy and Parker
middle schools. Horan also kept cash from a DARE-sponsored flag
football league and from various DARE raffles, according to Middlesex
County Assistant District Attorney Rick Grundy.

Grundy said Horan also used a Police Department credit card to
purchase personal items like a refrigerator, a laptop computer, and
the video games Battlefield 1942 and BlackHawk Down.

Officials from Chelmsford and the district attorney's office said
financial problems may have led to the alleged thefts. Horan's salary
is $40,397, but part of his paycheck was "attached," meaning it was
automatically diverted to another account, according to Chelmsford
police Lt. James Murphy. Chelmsford officials would not reveal that
money's destination, but Grundy told The Sun that Horan had
child-support payments for two children with two different mothers
garnished from his paycheck.

Grundy added that Horan spent a significant amount of the money he
allegedly stole at casinos and on scratch tickets. Horan also started
making payments on a $40,000 Ford F-150 pickup truck, Grundy said.

At the courthouse yesterday, Horan politely declined comment on the
DA's allegations.

"It's a difficult time for Michael," said Horan's attorney, Daniel
Wilkins.

Wilkins added that Horan's main concern is for the children he worked
with in Chelmsford.

Horan, 30, served as Chelmsford's DARE officer from June 1999 until
November 2003, when he was placed on paid administrative leave.
Chelmsford police conducted an internal investigation of Horan's
activities that culminated in his indictment last week by a Middlesex
County grand jury on 10 counts of embezzlement and 10 counts of
larceny. Horan is now suspended without pay.

Clerk Magistrate Lucy Pasquale set Horan's bail at $5,000 cash
yesterday, which he quickly posted. Horan must stay away from Parker
and McCarthy middle schools and their parent-teacher organizations.
According to Murphy, the middle school PTOs were involved with the
DARE basketball fund-raiser. Discrepancies in audit sheets from that
and other programs spurred the Police Department to investigate Horan,
Murphy said.

PTO members and school officials were reluctant to comment yesterday,
saying they did not know much about the situation.

"We don't know a whole lot about what went on," said Parker Middle
School Principal Dick O'Donnell, who said the Police Department is
ultimately responsible for DARE fund-raisers.

O'Donnell, who taught civics when Horan was a freshman at Chelmsford
High School, said he is troubled by the allegations against his former
student.

"He was a good kid, he worked hard," O'Donnell said. "I'm hoping we
find out it isn't true."

Horan is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing June 15.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to
$1,000 for each embezzlement charge, and up to five years in prison or
a fine of up to $25,000 for each of eight counts of larceny over $250.
Horan is also charged with two counts of larceny under $250.