Firefighter loses $78,096 job for shoplifting $7.98 in items

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey firefighter will lose his $78,096-a-year job after being convicted of shoplifting $7.98 worth of items.

A Municipal Court judge on Friday said 34-year-old Ashton Funk, of Northfield, has to forfeit his jobs as a firefighter and lifeguard after being convicted of shoplifting from a convenience store in Margate in August.

His attorney is appealing the conviction. Funk wouldn't comment.

Funk wasn't on-duty as a Margate firefighter or member of the beach patrol at the time of the offense. But the Atlantic County prosecutor's office wanted him dismissed from the job he's held since 2011, saying a public employee is subject to dismissal if convicted of an offense involving dishonesty.

Prosecutors say Funk left a convenience store without paying for sunflower seeds, a breakfast sandwich, Gatorade and coffee.

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This story has been corrected to show that Funk was convicted but did not plead guilty.