Two former West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department officials pleaded not guilty last week to charges related to alleged thefts of fire department funds.

Donna Hope Tate, 41, of Thorsby, and Apache Lynn Corona, 40, of Jemison, waived their arraignments and filed written pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect through their defense attorneys.

An indictment against Tate filed in February in Chilton County Circuit Court charges her with one count of theft of property in the first degree and one count of extortion in the first degree, according to court records.

Corona was also indicted in February in Chilton County Circuit Court, charging her with one count theft of property in the first degree.

Both females face charges related to alleged theft of fire department funds from West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department.

A February grand jury indicted Tate, Corona, and Steve Tate relating to alleged thefts of fire department funds.

The three individuals were arrested in July 2014 on charges including theft of property and extortion, according to court records.

Steve Tate, a former Chilton County Sheriff’s deputy and former fire chief of the West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department, is Donna Tate’s husband.

The three suspects were taken into custody by the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Both Tate and Corona were listed as treasurers of the West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department, according to court records.

Two separate orders filed on March 9 by Chilton County Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds set plea dates for both Tate and Corona.

Tate’s plea date is scheduled for April 9 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Corona’s plea date is scheduled for April 7 at 9 a.m. at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Both Tate and Corona will have the option to inform the court whether the case will go to trial or whether they will enter a plea of guilty, according to court records.