Former Fire Chief Sentenced To 8 Years For Embezzlement

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A judge sentenced a former volunteer fire department chief to eight years in prison Friday for embezzling nearly $650,000 from his fire district.

David Roy MacBean, 42, bought musical equipment, electronics, computers and other high-end items from January 2010 to March 2013 by using the department's credit card and bank accounts, prosecutors said. He oversaw operations, including budget preparation, for the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District.

During sentencing arguments, prosecutors highlighted how MacBean spent $42,000 in July 2012 alone in an online shopping blitz.

In a packed courtroom, MacBean told District Judge Jeffrey Pilkington he took complete responsibility and that he'd betrayed firefighters, their families, the community and his friends and family. He said he suffered from a shopping addiction and asked for probation so he could work to repay the district.

He pleaded guilty in April to two counts of theft of more than $20,000 and one count of embezzlement, all felonies.

MacBean agreed to pay $647,351.59 in restitution as part of his plea.