WARREN — Former Eagle Joint Fire District Lt. Richard S. Wittkugle was given two years of probation, ordered to repay overpayments he received and ordered to do 200 hours of community service for altering the number of fire calls he responded to.

The sentencing came during a hearing Wednesday before Judge W. Wyatt McKay.

Wittkugle, 54, was charged with theft in office, tampering with evidence and grand theft. He pleaded guilty to theft July 31.

Wittkugle misappropriated $10,125 by altering the number of calls he and other firefighters went on for the fire district, leading to a $2,160 overpayment to himself.

He has already repaid the $2,160 overpayment, court records said.

Police believe calls were added to other firefighters to disguise increases to Wittkugle’s attendance, the report states. The district provides firefighting services for Hubbard city and township.

An investigation of fire call records show that Wittkugle responded to 180 calls in 2013, but wrote that he responded to 198. The next year, he responded to 154 calls and reported 174, the report states. In 2015, he responded to 174, but showed 198. In 2016, he reported 249, but responded to 165. Last year, the report states, Wittkugle reported he responded to 249 calls, but actually responded to 174. The report, dated Jan 19, states 2018 had 26 actual calls, but he reported responding to 45.

The volunteer firefighters are paid $15 per call and receive a check once per year.

rsmith@tribtoday.com