A woman who allegedly stole nearly $400,000 over a period of years while working as treasurer for Dewey Fire Co. No. 1 in Hellertown waived her preliminary hearing in district court Monday, meaning she will likely stand trial, Channel 69 News reported on WFMZ.com.
Dewey Fire Company former treasurer Agnes Patterson (Facebook profile photo)
Agnes Patterson, 52, of the 500 block of Henry Street, Hellertown, was charged following a grand jury investigation last month with theft by unlawful taking (a second degree felony), theft by deception (a second degree felony), access device fraud (a third degree felony) and misapplication of entrusted property (a second degree misdemeanor), after authorities said she allegedly embezzled the money to help finance a gambling addiction.
Channel 69 reported that–according to prosecutors in the case–Patterson initially claimed that she gambled with the volunteer fire company’s money to try and raise more funding, but later admitted that the alleged theft was for personal gain.
A brief Morning Call video published on the newspaper’s website shows Patterson wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers sweatshirt and jeans and walking alone into the district court building on Walter Street in Lower Saucon Township early Monday.
Patterson is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.
According to court records, her formal arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2017 at 1 p.m. in Courtroom 1 at the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton.
