A State Police trooper accused of stealing golf balls, among other items, has been put on probation as an internal affairs investigation is completed.

The State Police told the Herald Tuesday night that Trooper Zachariah Kent agreed to an Alford plea, acknowledging prosecutors have sufficient facts but not admitting guilt.

He must repay Target $1,000 immediately and stay away from all the chain’s stores.

“The Massachusetts State Police does not tolerate theft or dishonesty, and we hold our members accountable to the highest professional standards,” said MSP spokesman Tim McGuirk.

He added Kent has been relieved of duty since October of last year and simultaneously suspended without pay.

Kent’s pay was frozen after he already pulled down $118,777 in 2024 and $123,000 in 2023, according to state payroll records.

The State Police added: “Yesterday’s resolution of the criminal process allows us to complete our internal affairs investigation and pursue any violations of our Department’s rules and regulations.”

As the Herald previously reported, the 30-year-old second-year trooper from Sutton is accused of shoplifting more than $1,000 worth of merchandise, including golf balls, throughout 2024 from stores in Millbury and Worcester, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The paper first reported the trooper’s arrest using court records.

The paper added that Kent was suspected of shoplifting from Target at least 23 times in multiple “jurisdictions.”

He was accused of “skip scanning” — where a customer deliberately avoids scanning items at self-checkout to shoplift.

The MSP stated Tuesday night Kent graduated from the State Police Academy in October 2022 and that he has “no other previous disciplinary history.”