The plea hearings for three former West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department officials who face charges related to alleged thefts of fire department funds have been delayed until 2016.

Donna Tate, 41; Steve Tate, 45; and Apache Corona, 39, were scheduled to appear in court on Thursday morning before Chilton County District Judge John Bush for their plea hearings.

According to court documents, Bush rescheduled the plea hearings for March 3, 2016, at 8 a.m.

At the plea hearings, the three will have the option to inform the court whether the cases will go to trial or whether they will enter guilty pleas.

The three were originally scheduled to appear in court in May, but did not appear before Bush.

Bush filed an order after the May hearing scheduling the plea hearing for Sept. 24, according to court records.

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

Donna Tate is facing charges of one count theft of property in the first degree and one count of extortion in the first degree, according to court records.

Corona faces charges of one count of theft of property in the first degree.

Steve Tate faces charges of one count of theft of property in the first degree and one count of extortion in the first degree.

The three were arrested July 30, 2014, and taken into custody by the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office.

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

Steve Tate was a former Chilton County Sheriff’s deputy and fire chief at West Chilton Volunteer Fire Department.

Steve Tate and Donna Tate are husband and wife.

Currently, Steve Tate remains out of jail on a bond of $100,000.

Donna Tate and Corona remain out of jail on bonds of $50,000 each.