RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Former Richmond Police Sergeant Michael Talley pleaded guilty to two embezzlement charges in court Thursday morning, one misdemeanor and one felony charge. Talley was accused of embezzling from an injured officer and the Richmond Coalition of Police.
Judge Margaret Spencer sentenced Talley to three years and 90 days in jail, but suspended the entire sentence. That means Talley will avoid going to jail as long as he stays out of trouble.
"We wanted to make sure he did not get any favoritism because he is a police officer," Richmond Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John Jung said after court. "But we also wanted to make sure he was not treated any more harsher than anybody else because he was a police officer."
Both Talley and his lawyer declined to comment following the hearing.
Judge Spencer ordered Talley to pay back $400 he took from the injured officer. That money was raised during a fundraiser for the injured officer.
Talley was given 90 days to pay back the $400 and $1450 to the Richmond Coalition of Police. Talley already paid back nearly $5000 he was accused of taking from the organization.
A third embezzlement charge for stealing an additional $4000 from the Police Athletic League was dropped. Prosecutors said they did not have enough evidence to proceed with the charge.
The Richmond Police department put Talley on leave without pay last summer pending the outcome of the case. Richmond Police spokesman Gene Lepley said Talley is on “non-work status.” That means at this time he is not able to work for the Richmond Police Department. Lepley said a decision about Talley’s future employment would happen at a later date.
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