A former Jacksonville policeman faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from a police charity group. But he won't lose his city pension - about $55,000 a year.

Reginald Leon Lott , 45, entered his plea Wednesday to a single count of grand theft, a second-degree felony, before Circuit Judge Thomas Beverly . He had also been charged with organized fraud.

Lott, a 22-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, is accused of stealing between $50,000 and $60,000 from the Brotherhood of Police Officers, a nonprofit group of about 100 minority police and corrections officers who do charity work in the community.

Lott retired from his $89,900-a-year lieutenant's job before the sheriff could fire him .

He will be able to collect his pension because the theft didn't involve city funds, then-Undersheriff Frank Mackesy told the Times-Union after Lott's arrest.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August. Assistant State Attorney Rich Komando said he plans to ask for prison time.

Lott remains free on $5,000 bail. He and his attorney, Hank Coxe , declined comment Wednesday.

Investigators say Lott stole the money over several months and used it to shop at high-end retail stores and make college tuition payments for a family member.

The missing money came up during an IRS audit when the group changed its nonprofit status.

david.hunt@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4025