An Orange County lawman was charged with misconduct Monday in Goshen for allegedly stealing guns from an evidence room and selling them.

Lt. Lloyd Kurth has also been suspended for a year with pay as he faces the misdemeanor. Kurth maintained his innocence outside of the Orange County Courthouse, saying "I've been a loyal employee of the sheriff's office for 20 years."

Sheriff Carl DuBois says the evidence proves otherwise. According to DuBois, the investigation started in 2006 when a citizen went to retrieve his gun from the department. Officials could not find the gun and DuBois says the paper trail pointed to Kurth.

DuBois has been pushing the county to hire two "accountability officers" to oversee the department of about 400 employees. The Legislature has not yet voted on the proposal, but is expected to take up the issue again this week.

News 12 Hudson Valley has learned prosecutors offered Kurth a plea deal that calls for his resignation. He's due back in court October 1.