The wife of a former Kidder Volunteer Fire Company chief pleaded guilty to stealing money from the department's firemen's relief fund.

Amanda Devine offered a guilty plea to the theft charge during her preliminary hearing before District Justice Joseph Homanko on Dec. 2 in exchange for the charge of receipt of stolen property being dropped. She will be required to pay restitution in the amount of $32,821.33.The township supervisors placed the company on probation in January for "mismanagement of funds" relative to an unfavorable audit conducted by the state Office of the Attorney General.On Sept. 17 the township board of supervisors voted to remove Kidder fire company from its list of authorized fire companies, leaving the township with two fire companies: Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company, which currently takes lead responsibility for calls to the north of Route 80, and Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Company, which now takes the lead on calls that originate south of Route 80.Kidder fire company members recently voted to merge with Albrightsville fire company and are in the process of working out the details before approaching the board of supervisors for approval.Devine, wife of former chief John Devine, will be sentenced on Jan. 19 by Judge Joseph Matika.