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SALT LAKE CITY — The former executive director at This Is the Place Heritage Park, who was fired for misusing funds, now faces a federal criminal charge.
A felony information filed in U.S. District Court charges Matthew Dahl with one count of mail fraud.
"He's had to sell everything he owns ..."We believe by the time this gets to court, he'll have paid back 100 percent." Greg Skordas, defense attorney
According to court documents, Dahl used his position to submit false and fraudulent invoices to the park for reimbursement when in fact they were for personal use. He allegedly sent a park check to Trevor Roche Company — a Parma, Idaho, cattle ranch — in the amount of $6,800.
Dahl diverted the park's money to his private livestock operation to buy cattle and equipment, said his attorney Greg Skordas. Dahl was the executive director at This Is the Place for five years.
Skordas said Dahl has worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office since the park's board fired him in January and knew charges were coming. Since then, he said Dahl has paid back about two-thirds of the $240,000 he allegedly stole. An internal audit alerted park officials to the missing funds.
"He's had to sell everything he owns," Skordas said. "He's cashed out his retirement and sold his home."
In addition, he said Dahl is selling the cattle and equipment he bought illegally. "We believe by the time this gets to court, he'll have paid back 100 percent," Skordas said.
Dahl is scheduled to appear in federal court Aug. 8. Skordas said he expects to reach a plea bargain with prosecutors.
Email:dromboy@ksl.com
