Ex- Atlantic County Firefighter Sentenced for Theft

A former volunteer firefighter is sentenced to five years probation and required to pay $25,000 in restitution for stealing thousands of dollars from the Somers Point Fire Company.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain says 53 year old Wayne Bailey, of Egg Harbor, wrote a number of checks to himself from the Fire Company's House Committee account and also took an undisclosed amount of cash from the bar operated by the fire company.

In February 2010, a joint investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit and Somers Point Police was initiated after the Somers Point Fire Co. informed police that Bailey may have stolen money from their account.

Bailey served as the Chairman of the House Committee and Bar Committee for the Fire Company.

On May 21, 2010, Bailey was arrested and charged with theft by failure to make required disposition, and on August 20, 2012, he pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to First Assistant Prosecutor Diane Ruberton, Bailey must also forfeit his positions as Fire Inspector in Somers Point and Dispatcher in Ventor City.