RSM Firefighter Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Captain

He stole $20 now and then from a colleague, and on Tuesday, a 25-year veteran of the Orange County Fire Authority pleaded guilty to petty crimes that cost him his career.

Firefighter-paramedic Gregory Mark Konishi, 49, of Rancho Santa Margarita, entered his plea to two misdemeanor counts each of second-degree burglary and petty theft after stealing $40 from a captain's wallet at the Irvine Station.

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Konishi is to be sentenced on Aug. 5. Deputy District Attorney Brett Brian, who negotiated the plea deal with Konishi and his attorney, said that if Konishi finishes a "life skills" class that deals with theft issues and "stays out of trouble, then come August (the case) gets dismissed."

"The big thing for him is he lost his career," Brian said. "That's his real punishment."

Konishi agreed to pay about $200 in restitution to his co-worker, a fire captain he worked with who was his friend, Brian said.

When the captain noticed money missing from his wallet he set up a "snoop camera" in his room and called police when he caught Konishi stealing, Brian said.

According to police, Konishi stole a total of $40 on two separate occasions.

Irvine police "set up a sting with cameras and bills and he took the bait," Brian said. "Then he was seen taking the money and buying his co-workers lunch with it" after thefts on Sept. 28 and Oct. 22, 2012.

As part of his plea deal, Konishi also has to repay Irvine police $40 used in the sting, said Brian, who indicated the resolution of the case was standard for petty thefts.

Konishi was arrested Nov. 8 and retired on Dec. 18 after being notified the department would begin termination proceedings, according to OCFA Division Chief Kris Concepcion.

—City News Service contributed to this story

TELL US IN THE COMMENTS: After completing "life skills" and paying his debt, should Konishi get another chance to salvage his career?