DOVER — A now-retired Delaware State Police forensic firearms examiner was arrested Tuesday after allegations that he received over $30,000 in compensation for falsified time sheets in 2016 and 2017, authorities said.

Carl M. Rone, 62, of Philadelphia, was charged with felony theft by false pretense greater than $1,500 and falsifying business records for approximately 79 days of worked not performed, according to State Police spokesman Sgt. Richard Bratz.

He was arraigned and released on $2,000 unsecured bond in Kent County Superior Court.

According to State Police, Mr. Rone was first suspected of not reporting to work when scheduled in mid-November of 2017.

An ensuing investigation by detectives determined a total amount of $30,265.39 in compensation was involved.

After being hired by State Police in 2006, Mr. Rone was tasked with establishing the agency’s Forensic Firearms Services Unit in Dover, authorities said.

“Rone, who was employed full time with DSP, was authorized to work an alternative work schedule,” Sgt. Bratz said in a news release announcing the arrest and charges.

“Furthermore, he was authorized to work outside employment during his off time.”

A Kent County Grand Jury indicted Mr. Rone on Monday, police said. He turned himself in to Troop 3 in Camden to face charges.

In February, a Dover man’s murder trial was delayed due to Mr. Rone’s unavailability after examining evidence in the case.

During a hearing, the Delaware Department of Justice said it learned on Jan. 19 that Mr. Rone had been suspended from duties for undisclosed reasons and would not testify in criminal matters indefinitely.

A Deputy Attorney General said Mr. Rone had since resigned his position.

Delaware Chief Public Defender Brendan O’Neill was notified of Mr. Rone’s suspension on Jan. 19.

His office released a statement that read:

“Two weeks ago, we received a communication from the Department of Justice about the suspension of firearms examiner Carl Rone.

“We do not know the details or reason for the suspension, but we do have concerns about the impact this may have on pending and past litigation.”

Mr. Rone’s name also surfaced in Kent County Superior Court in April during the sentencing of Abdul T. White for the first-degree murder of a Milford man at his residence on Aug. 8, 2015.

Mr. White failed in a try to get evidence he claimed was “exculpatory and that the State has refused to produce,” according to Judge Jeffrey Clark in a three-page order.

He was seeking information on former State Firearm’s Identification Expert Carl Rone’s “suspension, discipline, and resignation from State employment.”

Judge Clark declined “to speculate as to what post-trial issues Mr. White will raise.”