Former firefighter sentenced to two years probation

AMHERST — A former Amherst County firefighter who charged more than $4,500 in fuel for his personal vehicle to the Monelison Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad was sentenced to two years probation Wednesday morning.

John Wayne Eggleston Jr., of Madison Heights, pleaded guilty in November to one count of embezzlement.

“I’m totally remorseful for what I did,” Eggleston told Circuit Court Judge Michael Gamble. “I know right from wrong.”

Wanda Yoder, Eggleston’s lawyer, said the 11-year volunteer has long since repaid the department and that he is humiliated.

“Each time he hears a siren go off when he’s at his workplace, he knows he won’t be giving back to his community as he had,” Yoder said.

At the November hearing, Amherst County Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Maddox told Gamble the firefighter billed the department for gas for his personal vehicle 45 to 50 times between December 2006 and March.

Maddox reiterated Wednesday Eggleston’s comment to an investigator that the scam was too easy and too tempting to stop until he was confronted.