Margate firefighter may lose $78K job for shoplifting $7.98 from Wawa

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WPVI) -- A New Jersey firefighter could lose his $78,096-a-year job after being convicted of shoplifting $7.98 worth of items from a Wawa.

A Municipal Court judge on Tuesday found 34-year-old Ashton Funk of Northfield guilty of shoplifting from the Wawa in Margate on Aug. 17.

Funk wasn't on duty as a Margate firefighter or member of the beach patrol at the time of the offense. But the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is seeking his dismissal from the job that he's held since 2011, saying a public employee is subject to dismissal if convicted of an offense involving dishonesty.

Prosecutors haven't said which items Funk was accused of stealing.

The Press of Atlantic City reports Funk is an award-winning lifeguard rower, winning nine South Jersey Lifeguard Championships.

A woman who answered a call to a number listed for Funk said he didn't live there.

The judge will issue a ruling later.