KY fire chief, girlfriend charged with stealing more than $10,000 from department
The chief of a rural fire department in Eastern Kentucky has been charged with stealing from the department, according to Kentucky State Police.
Police arrested James C. Farris, 36, and his girlfriend Sharla R. Stacy, 36, both of the Perry County community of Bulan, on Monday, according to a news release.
Each is charged with one count of theft and one count of abuse of public trust. The theft was more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, according to the court docket.
State police said detectives started investigating several months ago after receiving a report from the Kentucky Fire Commission of possible misconduct.
The investigation showed Farris, the chief of the Jakes Branch Fire Department, took money from the department for personal use, state police said.
Farris and Stacy were ordered to stay at least 1,000 feet from the fire department as part of their bond, according to the court record.
