The firefighter who stole nearly $75,000 dollars from his union has resigned from the Columbia Fire Department and accepted a plea bargain of six years’ probation after negotiations with the District Attorney’s office, according to the Columbia newspaper.

Mike Jones pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft over $10,000 dollars and was given a suspended sentence of six years, District Attorney Brent Cooper told The Daily Herald.

If Jones goes six years without getting into trouble, he'll avoid serving time in prison, according to Cooper. If he commits another crime during probation, Jones will serve the maximum amount of prison time of six years.

Jones was indicted by a Maury County grand jury in January and placed on administrative leave without pay by the city.

The former Columbia Firefighters Association secretary/treasurer originally was accused of stealing more than $65,000 dollars, using a union credit card. He repaid the money, plus another $9,000 dollars not originally declared.

The 15-year veteran worked out of Fire Station No. 5 in north Columbia.

Jones resigned in a three-sentence letter to the city June 6.