NORWICH – A former area firefighter pleaded guilty Tuesday in Chenango County Court to forging a fellow service member’s name and stealing around $4,200 from the Plymouth Fire Department.

LeRoy C. Burlingame III, 26 of 130 North Broad Street, Norwich, resigned from his part-time position in the Norwich Fire Department and his volunteer post in Plymouth after police charged him with four felonies July 12.

He pleaded guilty to one count of second degree forgery, a D class felony after being charged with a total of three forgery counts. He was also charged with fourth degree grand larceny, an E Class felony.

In a brief court appearance, Burlingame apologized for the incidents, thanking Chenango County Judge W. Howard Sullivan and District Attorney Joseph McBride for their service in the matter.