A Matamoras, Pa., couple accused of taking more than $68,000 from the Matamoras Fire Department bingo fund were mostly expressionless at their preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Former fire Chief Kevin DeGroat and his wife, former department treasurer Theresa DeGroat, occasionally whispered to each other and wrote notes on a yellow pad while their attorney, Robert Bernathy, wrestled with evidence, including a stack of Sam’s Club receipts presented by Pike County Assistant District Attorney Bruce DeSarro.
The couple, accused of taking money in several ways, were charged with theft in December.
Bingo money was used at Sam’s Club in the Town of Wallkill, N.Y., to purchase personal household items totaling some $2,800, authorities said.
Theresa DeGroat admitted to opening sealed money bags from the bingo games, changing the deposit slip and writing out a new one to be deposited in the bank, according to court documents and testimony by Eastern Pike Regional Police Sgt. David Zegarski .
Both Zegarski and Eric Stewart, the assistant police chief and a member of the fire department, testified that during questioning, Theresa DeGroat threw out a lot of names of people who should also be investigated for theft of fire department funds.
Theresa DeGroat “tried to minimize it,” Stewart told the court. “She said they (the DeGroats) are not the only ones who did it and that is a common practice in the fire department.” No one else has been charged in the thefts.
Two new charges were filed at Wednesday’s hearing; criminal conspiracy to commit charge of theft, and misappropriation of government property or government funds.
Magisterial District Judge Deborah Fisher found enough evidence to hold the case for trial.
Source: recordonline.com
What would you do if you found out that your spouse/partner was doing this? All that cash at their fingertips. Would you join forces like Bonnie and Clyde, turn them in, make them stop or ignore it?
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