Former Libby resident accused of embezzlement arrested in Washington

One-time mayoral candidate being extradited from Washington

By Erika Kirsch Western News Editor

A former Libby resident accused of funneling over $400,000 from his former employer into businesses and personal property was arrested in Spokane, Wash. Wednesday morning.

William A. Dancer, 51, former Libby businessman and unsuccessful mayoral candidate was arrested and booked into the Spokane Sheriff Deparment at 1:37 a.m. on Wednesday with a $100,000 bond for his release.

Dancer was arrested on a fugitive charge, although the nature of his arrest was not released, according to Spokane Sheriff Department dispatch staff. Dancer is wanted in Montana on a fugitive charge and refused to sign a waiver upon his arrest that would send him back to Montana, dispatch said. Dancer will be extradited back to Montana, according to dispatch staff.

Dancer ran an unsuccessful bid for Libby mayor in 2005 against current Mayor Tony Berget.

According to previous reports, Dancer is accused of embezzling $425,000 from his former employer, Sagle, Idaho-based Independence Home Center. Dancer was the area's local sales manager for the company starting in 2004, according to previous reports. A summons for a complaint was also filed against Dancer at the Lincoln County Judicial Court on Feb. 7, 2007 for breach of contract, according to court records.

Dancer has been accused of absconding with checks earmarked for the purchase of manufactured homes for various local residents, according to previous reports. Dancer allegedly used the money for his own personal use by purchasing two personal vehicles and two downtown Libby businesses, the Smart Bucks dollar store and Myra's Attic clothing store, according to previous reports.