Former Gaston County commissioner convicted for stealing money from funeral home

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Former Gaston County Commissioner David Ward admitted to stealing money from people who prepaid for services at his funeral home and will be going to jail.

Eyewitness News reporter Ken Lemon was in court as Ward admitted he's ashamed of what he did.

On Monday, Ward will have to go to the building that had his name etched on the cornerstone as vice chairman of the board of commissioners when it was constructed.

He will go there as a convicted criminal, a man who stole from people that trusted him to handle their memorial services.

The former vice chair of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners pledged to his answers in a guilty plea.

This happened in a courthouse he helped to build with his work on the board.

"Your honor, I would like to say I am very distraught over what I have done," Ward said.

He once owned and operated Ward Funeral Services in Gastonia.

The building is still there, but under new ownership, bearing his family's initial.

Ward's attorney told the judge Ward fell on hard financial times.

"He has lost three cars and two houses in the last 10 years," defense attorney Nick Street said.

Ward admitted to taking money from people who prepaid for funeral services.

He is accused of mishandling about $90,000.

He pleaded guilty Monday to taking just over half of that. It appears the problem was caught before anyone made a claim on the services.

"He is ready to face the music," Street said.

The plea to seven felonies means the man once considered one of the top political figures in the county loses the right to vote.

"I apologize to everyone concerned,” Ward said. “I tarnished my family name."

The 72-year-old will serve four months in jail.

"I just feel very ashamed of what I did,” Ward said. “I can't take it back, but I just want to move on."

If Ward fails to report to jail, then he will be forced to serve a two-year sentence in prison.

Cox Media Group