MOUNT CARMEL – Justin Dunkelberger claims, he paid the money back…that revelation came Friday during the Northumberland County prothonotary’s preliminary hearing on theft charges. Regardless, the case will go to criminal court on trial.
Dunkelberger entered a ‘not guilty’ plea in front of magistrate Richard Cashman. Dunkelberger is charged with stealing more than $12,000 from the Phil Lockcuff Memorial Scholarship Fund.
First, a witness, Tom Michaels of Sunbury testified he helped set up the memorial fund and Dunkelberger admitted to him that he took $1,600 from the Lockcuff fund to bankroll his campaign for prothonotary.
Then a forensic accountant testified that twelve checks were written from the Lockcuff fund and deposited into either Dunkelberger’s personal account or his campaign account between April 2013 and April 2015.
Dunkelberger’s attorney, Frederick Fanelli of Pottsville said his client deposited more than $16,000 into the memorial fund checking account, which repaid the full $12,000 that was allegedly taken, plus interest.
Judge Cashman said Dunkelberger had a responsibility to the Lockcuff Memorial Scholarship Fund and he needs to answer the question of what happened to the money.
