DUCK

A felony charge against former Duck Fire Chief John Mascaro that stemmed from an allegedly inaccurate resume has been dropped by the district attorney's office, Mascaro's defense attorney confirmed Friday.

"I researched it and I couldn't find a similar case like this that's ever been prosecuted in the state of North Carolina," said Southern Shores attorney Robert Trivette, who represented Mascaro in the criminal case.

Mascaro served as the town's fire chief from Oct. 5, 2005, until Jan. 24, 2006, when he was fired.

He was charged in May 2006 with obtaining property by false pretenses - a felony.

At a news conference held after Mascaro was charged, Duck Police Chief Dale Hamilton said the town believed Mascaro's employment background had been misrepresented in information he had provided to the town.

Town Manager Christopher Layton said on Friday that the town had been told that the case would be prosecuted. He said that he and other town officials disagreed with the recent decision to drop the charge.

"It wasn't our choice," Layton said. "We have to respect their decision to take that position and dismiss the charge, but we're disappointed."

A phone number listed for Mascaro in Kitty Hawk was disconnected.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com