EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP -- The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is seeking to have a Margate firefighter, who also works on the city's beach patrol, terminated after he was found guilty of shoplifting last week, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Ashton Funk, 34, of Northfield, was arrested Sept. 10 and charged with shoplifting $7.98 in items from a Margate Wawa on Aug. 17. Funk was off-duty from both his jobs at the time, the prosecutor's office said.

Funk was found guilty in Egg Harbor Township municipal court Dec. 15. The prosecutor's office took over the investigation and prosecution of the crime because a public employee was involved and is now seeking the forfeiture of Funk's public employment, citing rules on when a public employee is found guilty of a crime involving dishonesty.

Municipal Court Judge H. Robert Switzer will render a decision on the forfeiture at a subsequent proceeding, the prosecutor's office also said.

Funk, who earns more than $78,000 a year as a firefighter, is a nine-time South Jersey Lifeguard Championships winner, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook.