A former Baker County fire chief has denied the accusation he bought equipment at a discount from the Bend Fire Department for personal use.

Daniel Weitz, 60, appeared in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Friday to plead not guilty to charges of first-degree official misconduct and theft by deception.

The Deschutes County District Attorney’s office has alleged that Weitz bought the self-contained breathing apparatus compressor from Bend Fire at a $4,000 discount, but has not stated what Weitz paid. Similar compressors are valued at more than $5,000 and are used to fill firefighters’ air tanks.

Weitz allegedly told Bend Fire he was buying the compressor for his fire department, the Baker Rural Fire Protection District, but bought it for himself, according to the district attorney’s office.

Weitz’s defense lawyer, L. Todd Wilson, refused to discuss the specifics of the case but said when more facts come out, they will show his client is not guilty.

“He does not agree and disputes there was any theft of anything or any misconduct,” Wilson said. “This is not at all what it’s portrayed to be.”

Weitz was indicted in December by a Deschutes County grand jury on the charges. He was the Baker Rural Fire Protection District chief at the time of the alleged theft and misconduct, but has since retired.

Jerry Hampton, fire chief of Haines Fire Protection District in Baker County, said he believes Weitz is innocent of the charges because he never kept the compressor. Weitz donated it to the Haines Fire Protection District, Hampton said.

Hampton believes Weitz purchased the compressor for his department, but the board that oversees the department did not want to spend the money, even at the discounted rate. So, Weitz bought it with his money for the neighboring fire department, Hampton said.

“Haines Fire Protection District has the compressor,” Hampton said. “It was donated to the Haines Fire Protection District from Dan Weitz, and he has no personal gain out of this whatsoever.”

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said the issue in dispute is Weitz’s intent. Hummel alleges that Weitz never intended to donate the compressor, and the donation was approved by the city of Bend.

“It was the decision by the city of Bend to allow that donation,” Hummel said. “They city was never looking at making a profit.”

Hummel said he remains confident in the charges against Weitz.

“The taxpayers of Bend were victimized,” he said.

Weitz is out of custody as he awaits trial in August. As part of his conditional release agreement from Deschutes County Jail, Weitz is ordered to have no contact with Bend Fire Department employees or board members and members of his former fire department.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com