Falls public works director may qualify for a probation program, says his attorney

A Falls public works director accused of spending more than $9,000 in taxpayer money on items for his personal use could enter a probation that would let him remove his arrest.

At a brief appearance Monday, 52-year-old Jason Lawson of Fairless Hills waived his right to a preliminary hearing on five felonies and a related misdemeanor charge, sending the case directly to Bucks County Court. He remains free on unsecured bail.

But his attorney Blake Jackman said that his client plans to apply for acceptance into a special first-time non-violent offenders probation program. If he successfully completes the program, he could have his criminal record expunged.

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Lawson, who earned $106,090 this year, was initially placed on paid leave May 3. His status was changed to an unpaid leave when charges were filed July 31.  A township spokeswoman confirmed Monday he remains on unpaid leave.

County detectives opened an investigation in late March into allegations that Lawson used a Falls Township credit card and a township check to pay for items at a Home Depot and Middletown car dealership, then falsified records to make the purchases appear legitimate, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Township records showed Lawson made 20 purchases at a Home Depot using his township-issued credit card between March 1, 2019 and March 20 of this year totaling more than $5,700.

The items that Lawson allegedly purchased were consistent with home renovations projects, such as ladders, lattice, plumbing equipment, circuit breakers and power tools, the affidavit said.

A backhoe rental from Home Depot also allegedly used Lawson’s home address as well as the shipping address for 30 balusters he ordered.

Lawson has outside business ventures that include flipping homes in Lower Bucks, according to the affidavit.

Later in March, Lawson allegedly used a township check to pay for auto supplies including fuel injectors that paperwork filed with the township indicated were purchased to be installed on a Falls highway truck, authorities said.

But the order number on the invoice reflected VIN numbers that matched Lawson's personal vehicle, a 2009 Ford F-550, the affidavit said.

A subsequent police investigation found the fuel injectors in a township public works storage trailer. The parts were never installed on a Falls-owned truck and no work order for fuel injectors was placed when the parts were ordered, the affidavit said.

To conceal his thefts, authorities allege Lawson provided the township’s finance department with false authorization and reasons for the transactions so the expense could be properly recorded for accounting purposes.

Lawson previously was the public works director in Bristol Township before leaving to work in Falls in 2016, where he oversaw a staff of 19 employees.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Falls public works director may qualify for a probation program, says his attorney