North Carolina Fire Chief Found Guilty Of Violating Court Order

A judge has found outgoing Carrboro Fire Chief Rodney Murray guilty of violating a domestic protection order and breaking a court agreement.

Murray has been held in the Durham County Jail since his latest arrest last Thursday. Durham police said the son of Murray's former girlfriend, Gina Ambrosecchia, reported seeing Murray near her Chownings Street home on Wednesday. Ambrosecchia testified Wednesday that Murray started harassing her when she tried to break off their 10-year relationship.

"I told Rodney I didn't love him," she said.

That arrest came a week after Murray pleaded guilty to two counts of violating a domestic violence protective order taken out by Ambrosecchia. He was arrested previously on stalking and DWI charges on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Murray took the stand Wednesday and denied the latest claim. But he admitted he's still got feelings for his ex. Murray's attorney said Ambrosecchia's son, Tony Ambrosecchia, is lying.

Tony Ambrosecchia testifed he slashed Murray's tires hours after seeing him in his mother's neighborhood. However, he insisted he wasn't lying about Murray violating the order, and the judge apparently believed him.

Murray, who was placed on medical leave after suffering a heart attack in November, has been Carrboro's fire chief for about 12 years and worked for the Chapel Hill Fire Department for 25 years before that.

Earlier this month, he told Carrboro officials that he would retire effective March 1. He is expected to remain on full-time medical leave until then.

Murray will be sentenced on the latest charges on Feb. 8, when he could receive up to a 5-month jail term. Previous stalking and DWI charges are still pending against him. He is being held without bond.

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