Providence officer pleads guilty to embezzlement

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

A Providence Police officer with 36 years on the job pleads guilty to embezzlement charges.

In court Tuesday Michael McCarthy admitted to stealing a gun and more than $9,000 in cash from the department’s evidence room while serving with the department.

63-year-old Michael McCarthy of Warwick was assigned to the property and evidence room for several years. That gave him access to jewelry, money and other items.

Providence Police began investigating him in  2014 after a diamond ring, that was evidence in a theft case,  disappeared.

As a result, the entire property room was audited and they discovered more things were missing.

McCarthy was first arrested in 2014 on a felony charge, and was suspended without pay.

He was indicted by a grand jury in February 2015.

McCarthy had agreed to forfeit his pension, but it’s subject to an "innocent spouse clause" that could entitle his wife to half of that sum.

McCarthy was sentenced to serve one year in home confinement with six years probation.

He was also ordered to pay more than $9,000 back in restitution.

McCarthy has been terminated by the Providence Police Department.

© WLNE-TV 2016