Former Fire Chief Sentenced to One Year for Theft of Public Funds

Christopher Aaron Chapman, 36, former Fire Chief of Pike County Fire Department, pled guilty in August of 2024 to theft of public funds, admitting to stealing nearly $77,000 intended to purchase safety gear for the Blackberry Volunteer Fire Department.

According to court records, in Chapman's  plea agreement, he admitted to convincing using the grant money to purchase money from a company he owned, without telling them of his connection to the company. He then used all of the money for personal expenses, without fulfilling the orders.

Sentencing guidelines called for Chapman to spend between six and 12 months in prison. While Chapman’s attorney asked the judge to consider home incarceration, prosecutors asked that he be given a sentence on the top end of the guidelines because of the seriousness of the offense.

The judge sided with the prosecution, sentencing Chapman to 12 months in prison, which he will begin serving on June 10, 2025. He has also been ordered to repay all of the stolen money.