A former officer with the Rome Police Department pleaded guilty to theft by taking and violation of his oath of office charges this morning in Floyd County Superior Court and was sentenced to two years in prison and three years probation.

Kerry Duane Wagner of 20 Conasauga Court, Rome, was accused of stealing about $25,000 from September, 2006 to September, 2010 from the Coosa Valley Fraternal Order of Police, according to District Attorney Leigh Patterson.

Wagner paid all the money back, according to court documents.

He was sentenced under the First Offender Act by Judge Jack Niedrach.

The charges are not related to his duties as a Rome police officer. Wagner had been treasurer of the Coosa Valley FOP since 2002, said Ghee Wilson, president of the FOP.

The FOP hosts several charity events, the largest is Christmas with Santa Cops, where officers take needy children shopping for Christmas gifts.

In November of 2010, the Coosa Valley FOP issued a news release stating that the new treasurer had discovered some discrepancies in the bookkeeping.

“When the new treasurer assumed control of the books he found several reoccurring transactions which included ATM and dining purchases,” the news release said. “The matter was addressed with Wagner and he immediately offered to reimburse the money.”

The FOP turned the matter over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which turned their findings over to Patterson.

After the allegations were discovered, the FOP adopted new policies that address purchases and expense payments.