Sheriff's Deputy Accused of Stealing Guns While on the Job

Richard (Ricky) Bryan Shearin was accused of stealing guns from a Louisburg home on Aug. 18. He and other emergency workers were at the home of David Gillespie Sr. responding to a 911 call.

When they arrived, Gillespie's body was found inside. He had died of natural causes.

Investigators said Shearin then stole two valuable pistols and an UZI 9mm submachine gun from the home.  He returned the guns after a family member reported them missing.

Shearin was placed on administrative leave on Nov. 21 in response to the incident. He was fired Tuesday after being indicted on three counts of larceny of a firearm.

“It's my job to run this place fairly, in an honest, upfront manner to the public and I'm not going to tolerate these kind of actions with my employees,” Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green said.

Green said he will call a meeting Wednesday to address his staff about Shearin's actions.

This is the second incident involving a Franklin County sheriff's deputy in less than a month. Deputy Crystal Mitchell struck and killed a pedestrian on New Year's Eve when responding to a non-emergency call.