BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) -- Kim Jones, the chief of the West Hancock Volunteer Fire Department, and his son have been charged with embezzlement.
Hancock County Sheriff's investigators charged the elder Jones with accessory to embezzlement and Korri Jones, a firefighter, with embezzlement.
Another suspect, Kip Jones, also the chief's son and a West Hancock firefighter, was being sought Tuesday by authorities on the same charges.
Investigators declined to give details on the case.
Jones and his son were released Monday on $500 bond each.
The elder Jones said the charges stem from a small amount of money charged to a department credit card by his sons to put gas in their personal cars. He said he reported the money to the county's Fire Protection Board in August, but was arrested because he failed to notify state authorities.
``It was only about $300 or so, and the perpetrators (his two sons) have already paid it back,'' he said. ``But the investigators said I should have notified the state auditor's office.''
Glenn Snyder, president of the West Hancock Fire Protection Board, said one of the chief's sons will be permanently suspended from the department and the other will be suspended until the board can review his case. Snyder said it is unlikely the board will take disciplinary action against the chief.
