- A judge who spent nearly two decades on the bench in Pennsylvania could now face time behind bars
- Magisterial District Judge Timothy Dougherty pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to charges of theft by unlawful taking
- Dougherty now faces a sentence of up to nine years in prison and a fine of $20,000
- He is accused of stealing more than $15,000 from his court office in West Reading and nearly $98,000 from the Wyomissing Fire Department
- He will be sentenced in November
Timothy Dougherty pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of trusted property. he is alleged to have stolen more than $100,000
A Pennsylvania district judge has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing money from his court office and from a fire department where he served as treasurer.
Berks County Magisterial District Judge Timothy Dougherty pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of trusted property.
Other theft counts and charges of conflict of interest and receiving stolen property were dismissed.
Prosecutors say the judge stole more than $15,000 from his court office in West Reading, which collects fines and court costs.
They say he also stole nearly $98,000 from the Wyomissing Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as treasurer.
Authorities say none of the money stolen from the fire organization, which came mostly from donations, has been recovered.
Prosecutors say the judge stole more than $15,000 from his court office, pictured, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, which collects fines and court costs
Prosecutors allege the judge also stole nearly $98,000 from the Wyomissing Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as treasurer
The former Cumru Township police officer was in his 18th year as a district judge when he was arrested in May 2016.
He was suspended without pay by the state Court of Judicial Discipline.
Dougherty now faces a sentence of up to nine years in prison and a fine of $20,000.
When agents previously questioned Dougherty during their investigation about the missing funds, he told them it was spent on ‘life,’ not exciting things such as ‘drugs or prostitutes.’
He has been free on bail since his arrest and will remain at liberty until his sentencing in November.