PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A former Pike County volunteer fire chief accused of stealing money from his department has signaled his intention to plead guilty.

Former Blackberry Fire Chief Christopher Chapman, 35, of Ransom, was indicted back in April on a single count of federal program theft.

According to the indictment, he is accused of informing his department back in April of 2022 that they could obtain safety equipment from a company called Rural Public Safety Equipment. However, Rural Public Safety Equipment was actually company that he had formed that same month.

Over the next few months, the fire department received two grants totaling $50,000 from the fiscal court and used that money to prepay for equipment from his company. However, instead of using the money to fulfill the orders, the indictment alleges Chapman withdrew cash on several occasions for his own personal use.

Chapman was scheduled to go on trial later this month, but on Monday, his attorney filed a motion requesting that his client be allowed to change his plea. The motion does not specify the nature of his plea or if he has negotiated a plea agreement.

If the request is accepted, a judge will set a hearing for him to change his plea.