Former Volunteer Pleads Guilty to Impersonating Fire Marshal

Former Manassas Volunteer firefighter Orlando J. Matsumoto, 23, of Nokesville, pleaded guilty in Prince William County General District Court Friday to impersonating  public safety personnel.

The misdemeanor count carried a sentence of thirty days in jail and a $200 fine plus court costs, but the jail time was suspended,  according to City of Manassas Fire Marshal Francis J. Teevan. 

According to the fire marshal's office, Matsumoto entered the 7-Eleven store located at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Church Street in the early morning hours of June 30 and July 7 and demanded to use the bathroom and be given a free soda. Matsumoto  displayed a badge he failed to return to the local volunteer company after he no longer was a member and told the clerk he was a fire marshal.

On both occasions, the clerk told Matsumoto there was no public restroom available and Matsumoto responded by threatening to conduct an inspection and close down the store, according to information provided by the Fire Marshal's office. Matsumoto was arrested by officials on July 13 and charged him with two counts of impersonating a Fire Marshal, but the second charge was dropped.

Matsumoto was also arrested by Prince William County Police in September of 2010 and charged with impersonating a police officer while attending a concert at the Jiffy Lube Live Pavilion. The case was "set aside" by prosecutors at the time but could possibly be re-instated due to the latest charges.