Officer admits taking $18,000 from police athletic league

SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (AP) -- A northern New Jersey police officer has admitted taking roughly $18,000 from a Police Athletic League group for his own personal use while serving as the organization's treasurer.

Union County prosecutors say James Denman, who serves on the Scotch Plains force, pleaded guilty this week to attempted misapplication of trust funds. The 50-year-old Denman is expected to get a probation term when he's sentenced April 24, but also will likely have to forfeit his job.

Denman was serving as treasurer of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood PAL when the money was taken in December 2013, while he was off-duty from his police work. The funds were allegedly taken without the permission of any PAL executive or board member.

Prosecutors say Denman had repaid all of the money April 2014.