A former Miami County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded not guilty to a charge accusing him of stealing property from the sheriff’s office.

Tony Walters is due in county Common Pleas Court on March 4 for a pre-trial hearing on evidence gathered in the case.

Walters declined comment to news media attending today’s arraignment before Judge Robert Lindeman.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Slyman told News Center 7’s Kate Bartley that he was surprised an indictment was handed up by a county grand jury five years after the alleged incidents.

According to published reports, Walters is accused of stealing a digital camera from the sheriff’s office and trash bags and reams of paper from the Miami County Park District.

According to the indictment, a grand jury accuses Walters of committing theft on or about Jan. 1, 2007, through Sept. 15, 2007.

Those same published reports indicate that Sheriff Charles Cox fired Walters on June 26, 2012. Walters had been on paid administrative leave since February of that year pending the outcome of an internal investigation stemming from the theft allegations.

Cox, in the letter to Walters informing him of his firing, said the officer was facing seven charges that included dishonesty and failure of good behavior, neglect in performance of assigned duties, misuse of public funds and violations of the sheriff’s office personnel policies and procedures as well as the officer’s oath of office.

Walters waived his right to a pre-disciplinary conference, Cox pointed out in the letter.

The firing came at the conclusion of that internal investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Walters had worked for the sheriff’s office since August 1998. He filed a grievance seeking reinstatement, back pay and benefits. The matter was to be settled in arbitration.