MOUNT ARLINGTON, NJ - A former employee of Trend Motors was sentenced today to three years' probation and 30 days on the Morris County Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program for stealing $5,123 in company funds and cash that two customers gave him to purchase extended warranties.

William Bisson, 54, of Mount Arlington, had pleaded guilty to theft, theft by deception and forgery. In accord with a recommendation by county Assistant Prosecutor Julie Serfess, Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan sentenced Bisson to probation, restitution, and 30 days SLAP.

SLAP technically is a county jail sentence but is served, in-lieu-of-jail, on a manual labor program.

Bisson acknowledged that he was tempted by cash laying around the dealership, according to his defense attorney.

Bisson formerly worked for family-owned Bisson Motors in Roxbury before it was sold to Dover Dodge. He first worked as a sales manager for the Trend Motors Chrysler facility in Succasunna. He was transferred to work as used car manager for Trend Motors in Rockaway Borough after the Succasunna office closed.

The thefts occurred between April 2008 and January 2009. Bisson had admitted in court that he took money from two customers on the pretext of arranging extended vehicle warranties for them. He also pocketed company money and forged a document to show that a customer paid a lower price for a vehicle than he actually did.