A longtime Wrightsville Beach Public Works employee was terminated Tuesday, Jan. 20, for allegedly stealing and pawning town equipment. Tim Dauphinais was a senior utilities maintenance specialist. He began working for Wrightsville Beach in March 1996. Dauphinais was terminated on counts of fraud or theft and falsification of records for personal profit.
Wrightsville Beach Town Manager Tim Owens said it came to the attention of town staff that certain equipment items were missing. Owens then asked the Wrightsville Beach Police Department to investigate the matter.
The Wrightsville Beach Police Department regularly canvasses pawn shops and found the town equipment at five different pawn shops around Wilmington, including multiple Pawn USA locations.
Owens could not provide any further details at press time because the case is a personnel matter and pending legal issue.
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