SUNBURY - A former clerk at Shamokin Police Department charged with stealing $575 in parking ticket fines and payments for no-parking signs was admitted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program Tuesday morning.
If she successfully completes the program, Susan Witmer, 55, of 820 N. Sixth St., Shamokin, will have her criminal charges expunged.
Witmer's placement in the ARD program was approved by Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage.
An order issued by Sacavage that admits Witmer to the program requires the defendant to serve 9 months probation and pay costs of prosecution, an administrative fee of $300, an Act 35 supervision fee totaling $450 and any other mandated costs.
Witmer, who has no prior criminal record, also must make restitution of $575 to Shamokin Police Department.
In April, Witmer waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and later applied for the ARD program in an effort to expunge her theft-related offenses.
Witmer, whose resignation for personal reasons was accepted by Shamokin City Council on Feb. 1, is charged by Trooper Todd Leiby of state police at Stonington with misdemeanors of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds.
She is accused of stealing $70 in parking ticket fines and $505 collected for no-parking signs between Sept. 1, 2011, and Jan. 20, 2012. She told police she was borrowing the money to help her through a difficult financial period.
Witmer remains free on $2,500 unsecured bail.