Ex-Fritch VFD Assistant Chief Fritch pleads guilty to 'misapplication' of $88K | KVII

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The former Assistant Chief of the Fritch Volunteer Fire Department pleaded guilty to felony charges Thursday.Brittany Danielle Kerbo, 38, pleaded guilty to "mis

Former Fritch VFD Assistant Chief pleads guilty to 'misapplication' of $88,000 from firefighter association

Former Assistant Chief of the Fritch Volunteer Fire Department Brittany Kerbo in February 2021 (Source: Hutchinson County Jail)

FRITCH, Texas (KVII) — The former Assistant Chief of the Fritch Volunteer Fire Department pleaded guilty to felony charges Thursday.

Brittany Danielle Kerbo, 38, pleaded guilty to "misapplication of fiduciary property."

According to the indictment, Kerbo -- who was also the treasurer of the Fritch Volunteer Fire Association -- "unlawfully appropriated" more than $88,000 between September 2018 to March 2020, using the association's debit card.

When the missing money was discovered in 2020, Kerbo and her husband Rodney, who was the fire chief, were placed on administrative leave.

The Texas Rangers were called to investigate the case.

Both were released from the department in May 2020.

She was arrested in February 2021.

Thursday, Kerbo was sentenced to 10-years in prison and eight years of community supervision. But the prison sentence was suspended as long as she does not violate the terms and conditions of community supervision.

She was also ordered to pay $88,697 in restitution. The first $7,000 had to be paid Thursday. The rest must be paid $851.01 per month for the next eight years.

Kerbo must also complete 160 hours of community service.

In exchange for her plea, the other two counts -- theft and debit card abuse -- were dropped.

ABC 7 News contacted the Fritch Volunteer Fire Association for reaction to the guilty plea and sentencing.

"The association has no comment at this time," said President Gary Leatherman.