Former LynnCAM worker pleads not guilty

SALEM – A former Lynn community cable employee pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Salem Superior Court to charges he stole $34,000 while working for the community television studio.A judge allowed Chapman to remain free on his personal recognizance.John F. Chapman appeared in Salem Superior Court Wednesday where he was arraigned on charges of bribery; forgery; identity theft or fraud; larceny of property +$250; false entry in corporate books with intent to defraud; and uttering false checks.Attorneys did not argue bail or discuss the alleged facts of the case in court Wednesday.But two of the indictments specifically cite Chapman’s connection to Lynn Community Access and Media, Inc., or LynnCAM – a Western Avenue television studio providing local residents with access to equipment and programs.The indictments charge Chapman with soliciting bribes in exchange for electrical work for LynnCAM and stealing $20,969.77 of property from LynnCAM, and making fraudulent entries in the corporate books and on corporate financial statements, vendor invoices, and tax returns.Chapman is also charged with forging and uttering $13,347 in checks between March 2012 and June 2013, and committing identity theft to get the money.Chapman acknowledged working for LynnCAM and said he converted the former St. Jean’s Credit Union building into a television studio. Chapman is married to Karen Chapman, LynnCAM’s former president who resigned on Sept. 23. City attorneys on that date said they requested the state attorney general’s help in investigating “financial irregularities” brought to city lawyers’ attention by former and current LynnCAM employees.Since then, city officials working with the state have taken steps to have Comcast and Verizon divert payments to the studio into city accounts rather than allowing cable provider payments to go directly to LynnCAM.Essex Assistant District Attorney John Dawley requested no bail for Chapman but asked that the defendant stay away from LynnCAM and stay away from and have no contact with the witnesses in the case.Salem Superior Court Judge Timothy Feeley ordered the requested conditions and scheduled Chapman to return to court Dec. 4.Chapman declined to comment as he left the courthouse.