Ex-Huntington security guard pleads guilty to stealing, selling town's tools, DA says

A former Huntington Town security guard has pleaded guilty to stealing $3,700 worth of tools from the town and selling them for profit, Suffolk prosecutors said.

Robert Chura of Selden entered his guilty plea to grand larceny on Monday in front of Judge Richard I. Horowitz, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a news release. He is due back in court on Sept. 28 for sentencing.

As a part-time employee, Chura broke into a tool room and took three hedge trimmers, two chain saws and two leaf blowers, prosecutors said. While it's not known when Chura stole the tools, he was arrested in January at the age of 29.

“Stealing public property is a serious crime. Especially when, as in this case, the defendant exploited his position as a public employee to benefit himself,” said Tierney. “Fortunately, the only result he garnered from his scheme is a grand larceny conviction on his record.”

Contact information for Chura’s attorney, Joseph Carbone, was not immediately available.

Prosecutors at the time said that Chura sold the tools to Leonel Hernandez of Patchogue, who was arrested for criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.

His attorney, Norley E. Castañeda of Central Islip, could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.