Prior Lake's former fire chief has been found guilty of two counts of felony theft for taking more than $13,000 from the Fire Department.

Bruce W. Sames, 48, of Jordan, was found guilty this week by Scott County District Judge Mike Fahey. Sames had waived his right to a jury.

Sames, who had been with the department 26 years, resigned in January 2007 after it was discovered he had taken $13,463 over the past year. He then repaid the money and apologized to fellow firefighters.

Sames told investigators he always intended to repay the money, which he took to pay bills and gamble after a divorce and a slump in his construction business cut his income. His attorney, Michael McDonald, couldn't be reached for comment.

According to the complaint, Brian Davis, the Fire Department treasurer, first noted discrepancies in February 2006. When he asked Sames about them, the chief said not to worry or tell anyone; he would repay it. When officials at Prior Lake State Bank noticed suspicious Fire Department account activity, they called Davis, who told the two assistant chiefs about the discrepancies, and authorities were notified. Davis was then suspended from the department and retired in February 2007, said City Manager Frank Boyles. Davis later pleaded guilty to misconduct of a public employee, a gross misdemeanor. He was fined $980 and put on probation for a year, said County Attorney Pat Ciliberto.

Sames will be sentenced in July.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658