NJ firefighter loses $78K job for shoplifting $7.98 breakfast

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 pleading guilty to shoplifting from a convenience store in Margate in August.

His attorney is appealing the conviction and Funk declined to comment.

Funk wasn’t on duty as a Margate firefighter or member of the beach patrol at the time of the offense.

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But the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office wanted him dismissed from the job that he’s held since 2011, saying a public employee is subject to dismissal if convicted of an offense involving dishonesty.

Prosecutors said Funk walked out of a convenience store with sunflower seeds, a breakfast sandwich, Gatorade, and coffee.

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