Father-son EMS members accused of stealing from squad

A father and son who volunteer on a Emergency Medical Services team in Burlington County are charged with pilfering almost $30,000 from it for personal use.

Ronald A. Knighten, 51, and Benjamin D. Knighten, 23, of Springfield Township, are charged with theft by deception, and Ronald Knighten is also charged with misapplication of entrusted property, according to information from the office of County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi.

Ronald Knighten served as treasurer for the Springfield EMS between 2013 and this year, when financial discrepancies prompted another squad member to call police, authorities said.

The service is largely funded through the township. Squad members carried debit cards with unique account numbers, authorities said.

Ronald Knighten allegedly used squad expense money for personal bills and used his assigned debit card to withdraw $27,840 from the EMS account. Benjamin Knighten allegedly ran up $1,700 worth of personal expenses, not related to EMS activity, on his card.

Ronald Knighten was released after posting $500, amounting to 10 percent of his assigned bail. Benjamin Knighten was released on his own recognizance. The case now heads to a Burlington County Grand Jury.