BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Former Vermont state trooper James Deeghan walked into a Burlington courtroom nearly five months after he pleaded not guilty to padding his time sheets.
Monday he confessed to the crime.
"I put hours on my time sheet that I did not work," said Deeghan.
Enough time to rack up an extra $200,000 dollars.
A crime Deeghan says he committed because of greed.
"There was a time where I felt I was under a tremendous amount of financial pressure," said Deeghan.
Deeghan also told the judge he wanted move on with his life and asked others to forgive him.
"I want to apologize to the state police, my co-workers who I cared for very much and the state of Vermont," said Deeghan.
In addition to padding his time sheet Deeghan also admitted to two new charges.
Misdemeanors that police say come from him writing a lot of fake tickets.
"Over 900 over a 10 year period," said Vermont State Police Colonel Tom L'Esperance.
Deeghan will have to use his pension to pay back the stolen money.
And after serving more than 20 years as a trooper, Deeghan will spend two years where he helped send many others.
"It's not a good day for the state police but it's a step in the right direction, that's exactly what should have happened," said L'Esperance.
A punishment that prosecutors hope will send a message to any state employee who thinks about following in Deeghan's footsteps.
"You're going to go to jail, we're going to take your pension and your life will be ruined," said Chittenden County State's Attorney TJ Donovan.
In addition to restitution and jail time, Deeghan must complete 500 hours of community service.
Defense attorneys say the family wants to move on and that means moving out of Vermont.
