Ron Lake, who previously served as the Bellows Falls Village Police Chief, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday regarding allegations of forging the signature of his former partner on mortgage loan documents. The charges against Lake, who is 61 years old, stem from incidents that reportedly occurred in November 2021, following his retirement in March 2020.

At his arraignment in Windham Superior Court, Lake faced two felony charges, including forgery and forgery uttering. He was released under conditions that prohibit him from contacting his former girlfriend, who has relocated to Rhode Island.

The allegations surfaced when his ex-girlfriend reported to Vermont State Police that she discovered her signature had been forged on a refinancing document in early 2024. This revelation came when she returned to Vermont to attempt to remove her name from the property deed and reclaim a $10,000 deposit she had made while purchasing the property on Mandigo Road alongside Lake. The couple had jointly acquired the house in 2010 and cohabited there until her departure around 2015 or 2016, although she had moved within that period.

During their cohabitation, they supported their blended family of six children residing at Mandigo Road, contributing financially to the mortgage, which was $1,450 a month, with her share being $600.

Court documents reveal that during the investigation, Lake suggested to state police that his ex-partner requested $20,000 to facilitate the removal of her name from the mortgage and deed. However, this matter was never concluded. Police also interviewed Darlene Wyman, the former Rockingham Town Clerk, who notarized the loan modification containing the forged signature. Wyman expressed regret for notarizing the document, admitting that she trusted Lake, due to their previous acquaintance and his status as police chief, but recognized that she had not witnessed the woman sign.

Windsor County State’s Attorney Ward Goodenough is overseeing the prosecution of this case, as conflicts of interest prevent the Windham County state’s attorney’s office from engaging due to Lake’s extensive tenure as chief. Although the investigation took place in 2024, charges were not filed until January 2026.

Should he be convicted, each count of forgery carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment and a potential fine of $1,000. At his arraignment, Lake received representation from Daniel Stevens of the Windham County public defender’s office, but Judge Jennifer Barrett subsequently assigned attorney Ian Goodnow to his case for future proceedings.