Dec. 15--A former Bethlehem firefighter admitted Thursday in Lehigh County Court that he stole coffee and food totaling less than $8 from a convenience store while in uniform -- an offense for which he was later terminated, his attorney said.
Juan Ayala III, 37, of Coplay was charged in August with two counts of retail theft for stealing items from the Wawa on Eighth Avenue in Lehigh County.
At Thursday's hearing before District Judge Wayne Maura, defense attorney Eric Dowdle said Ayala would plead guilty to the charges and intended to apply for a program for first-time offenders when the cases are heard in Lehigh County Court.
After the hearing, attended by about five firefighters from Allentown and Bethlehem fire departments, Dowdle said Ayala was terminated from the city's fire department due to the summary charges. Bethlehem did not reply to a right-to-know request filed Wednesday about Ayala's status with the fire department.
Maura ruled Ayala must also pay $500 in court costs.
According to the citations:
Video surveillance shows Ayala on two different occasions stealing cups of coffee and breakfast items from the Wawa at 1584 Eighth Ave.
Surveillance July 24 showed Ayala walking out of the store with a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Ayala failed to pay for the items, which totaled $4.72.
Ayala was spotted at the same store Aug. 4 and left without paying for a cup of coffee, an apple and a banana. Those items cost $3.13.
Police say on both occasions, Ayala was wearing his Bethlehem firefighter uniform.
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