PAST BALLSTON LAKE COMMITTEE MEMBER AWAITING TRIAL.
In March 2017 Ballston
Lake Watershed Management Plan Development Committee member David Decker was
arrested.
David
Decker, a licensed professional engineer and the former leader of a group
dedicated to protecting Lake George water quality and also on the Ballston Lake Watershed Management Plan
Development Committee,
is accused of stealing $440,000 from the Lake George Watershed Coalition, of
which he was the director, until his arrest in March of 2017.
Decker, a Ballston resident, was responsible for obtaining and overseeing grants
to protect Lake George. He was a member of the Ballston Lake Watershed Management Plan Development Committee from 2014 through 2017. He prepared and applied for a grant for Ballston Lake after convincing the 2014 Ballston Town Board to pass a resolution requesting the introduction of legislation in the New York State Legislature designating Ballston Lake as an “Inland Waterway" in order to get the ball rolling. During his time on the committee he was involved with The Ballston Lake Sewer Project which went to referendum vote in October of 2015.
The
charges against Decker include grand larceny, corrupting the government, and
tax fraud for his dealings with Lake George.
It is unclear if his dealings with the Ballston Lake grant were investigated.
He
faces 12 counts in all. The maximum sentence on the top count is 8 and 1/3 to
25 years in prison. Decker has pleaded
not guilty and jury selection is scheduled for February 20, 2020.
February Update: Special prosecutor Christine Stevens, an attorney from the state Department of Taxation & Finance is assisting the Warren County District Attorney’s Office. Opening statements will begin February 24, 2020.
February Update: Special prosecutor Christine Stevens, an attorney from the state Department of Taxation & Finance is assisting the Warren County District Attorney’s Office. Opening statements will begin February 24, 2020.
September 2020 Update: Decker was sentenced 3 to 9 years in prison on the grand larceny charge, 1 to 3 years on the scheme to defraud charge and 1 to 3 years on each of the four counts of filling a false instrument for filing - all to be served consecutively. Source: The Post Star Sept, 9, 2020
