FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The former chief at the Smithers Volunteer Fire Dept. was sentenced Monday to 1-10 years in prison following an earlier guilty plea.
Timothy Whittington, 56, embezzled approximately $7,000 from the Fayette County-based VFD from July 2010 to Sept. 2012. He pleaded guilty Aug. 9.
Whittington took the money to pay some personal bills and then borrowed $4,000 from a bank to put back into the account before a scheduled audit. The audit discovered another $3,500 missing. Whittington was ordered Monday to pay that amount in restitution.
Fraud charges against his wife, Patricia, were dismissed as part of his plea bargain with prosecutors.
Whittington was sent to the Southern Regional Jail Monday. If room frees up in federal prison it’s doubtful Whittington would be sent to Mount Olive State Prison where he previously worked.