BELTON (July 30, 2009)--Former Troy Police Chief James David Seward will never be a law enforcement officer again, after reaching a plea deal with Bell County prosecutors Thursday in a theft case.

Bell County Assistant District Attorney Ken Kalafut said his office and Seward reached the plea deal Thursday morning in County Judge Gerald Brown's County Court #3.

Seward was originally charged with a misdemeanor theft over $500 under $1500.

Under the terms of the plea deal, Seward was sentenced to 24 months of deferred adjudication.

He must surrender his peace officer's license, pay $4771.78 in restitution to the City of Troy, serve 80 hours of community service, and pay a $100 fine.

Kalafut says the fine was purposely set low so that Seward could devote his full resources to paying back the City of Troy.

A call to Seward's attorney was not returned Thursday afternoon.

According to the affidavit issued for a 2008 arrest warrant, Seward told investigators he used money from a Troy account to pay for items for himself and his wife including an embroidery machine, a vacation, meals, gas and a rental car.

Seward was fired in August 2006 after spending six weeks on unpaid leave.

The Troy City Council suspended him on July 11, 2006 because of the ongoing investigation, which focused on the handling of money seized after drugs were found in a vehicle during a traffic stop.