Former Treasurer Mark Woods will be in court again March 31.

Former city of Dunkirk Treasurer Mark Woods has his next court date March 31, according to an Office of the State Comptroller spokeswoman.

Jennifer Freeman responded to an OBSERVER inquiry about criminal misconduct investigations concerning the city of Dunkirk government.

She said there are currently two cases: that against Woods, who is accused of swiping approximately $120,000 from the city, and the case involving Hector Rosas, the former festivals and recreation director.

Rosas was charged in May 2023 with two counts of third-degree grand larceny and two counts of public corruption. His case “is set to go to trial,” according to Freeman.

Rosas allegedly misused nearly $15,000 in donations intended for Puerto Rican victims of Hurricane Maria. The Comptroller’s Office and the Chautauqua County District Attorney allege he transferred the money from a city account to his personal bank account, then visited Puerto Rico and spent some of it – but could not produce receipts or account for the donations.

Rosas also stands accused of collecting more than $42,000 in cash sales of beer at the city’s summer festivals, but not reporting or depositing it in a city account.

He held his Dunkirk position in the late 2010s during the administration of Mayor Wilfred Rosas, his brother.

Woods worked in Dunkirk’s government far longer than Hector Rosas, starting as treasurer in the late 1990s. He retired after city voters abolished the treasurer as an elected position in November. The city government subsequently appointed Clerk Amy Dobek as treasurer, and is combining her offices in hopes of streamlining operations and keeping a sharper eye on money.

Woods was indicted and arrested in January, a matter of days after his retirement, on charges of public corruption, grand larceny and falsifying city records.

The Comptroller’s Office and county DA stated that Dunkirk City School District officials observed irregularities in the funds that were supposed to be remitted to it. Woods allegedly deposited non-school tax payments into the district’s accounts for months.

“As Dunkirk’s severe financial troubles escalated, Woods allegedly betrayed his community and public duty by allegedly scheming to steal over $120,000 in public money he was sworn to safeguard,” state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said.