SUNBURY – Former District Attorney Bob Beuhner is providing some insight, following the arrest of Northumberland County’s Prothonotary this week. Beuhner was a guest on WKOK’s On The Mark Program and said the way charges were filed against Justin Dunkelberger was different than what he would have expected.
He explained, “It was one charge of felony theft, as opposed to multiple counts for each time money was allegedly taken out of the fund. Each time that a check was written, or money was taken from that fund, is a separate and distinct crime. I probably would have, if it had been me, wrung up a count of theft on every one of those, and not aggregated them into one overall count.”
Dunkelberger is accused of taking more than $10,000 from the Phil Lockcuff Memorial Fund, which he oversaw.
Beuhner said Dunkelberger can remain in his position without resigning, while charges against him are pending, “A conviction only occurs in Pennsylvania after sentencing. For example, if Mr. Dunkelberger would exercise his right to a jury trial and the jury found him guilty of the charges, or some of the charges, it’s still not a conviction until after the person has been sentenced by the judge.”
Dunkelberger is due in court in early March for another charge. He was arrested last year for driving under the influence in Sunbury. After his court appearance for DUI, he is scheduled for a preliminary hearing a week later on the recent theft charge.
