The former police chief of Merriam Woods is facing up to 28 years in prison from charges filed Thursday in Taney County Circuit Court.

According to court documents, the Taney County Sheriff’s Office was called on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 by Merriam Woods’ City Clerk Nicole Rodman about misappropriation of funds by Nathan Lewis. Lewis was fired as police chief by the Merriam Woods Board of Aldermen on Thursday, Feb. 9. 

Merriam Woods officers cleaned out Lewis’ patrol vehicle and office following his dismissal. They found a laser radar, a mobile fingerprint scanner, and a Remington 870 shotgun; all three of which were reported stolen from the Velda City Missouri Police Department. Velda City Police Chief Daniel Paulino confirmed to a Taney County Sheriff’s Office detective the items were from their police department, and had been missing since Lewis left their employment in 2018.

The full story by Jason Wert can be found on the Branson Tri-Lakes News Website.