A former Harford County fire chief was ordered Wednesday to pay $70,300 in restitution and sentenced to six months after stealing from the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company.

Daniel McKinney, 39, pleaded guilty in May to embezzlement and theft.

“The Board of Directors discovered some irregular purchases on an issued company credit card and then turned over evidence to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office,” Chris Gibbons, president of the Fallston company, told The Baltimore Sun in May.

He was indicted in April 2025 on five felony theft charges ranging from theft of $1,500 to $100,000 and one misdemeanor embezzlement charge. The charges were later reduced to one county felony theft of $1,500 to $25,000 and one count of misdemeanor embezzlement.

The thefts took place from July 2019 to January 2025, according to court records.

In a news release, McKinney’s lawyer, Chris Luber, said McKinney is deeply remorseful.

“He chose to report his own conduct and cooperate fully throughout every stage of this matter,” Luber said. “While that cooperation did not alter the legal outcome, it reflects his continued commitment to accepting responsibility and participating honestly in the judicial process.”

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated how McKinney would serve the six-month sentence. The Sun regrets the error.

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