by peter e. bortner
William G. Wildoner admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he stole money from the county, Ryan Township and Mahanoy Area School District.
Wildoner, 72, of Barnesville, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft as the result of his actions while serving as Ryan Township tax collector.
Judge Jacqueline L. Russell accepted Wildoner's guilty plea and ordered preparation of a presentence investigation. She did not immediately schedule Wildoner's sentencing.
Wildoner faces a maximum possible prison sentence of 10 1/2 years to 21 years in a state correctional institution.
State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Wildoner with stealing thousands of dollars, including $171,145.08 from the school district and $39,572.94 from the township, between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010, while serving as the township's tax collector, a position he held for 35 years before resigning after being arrested.
"The total was over $357,000," Jeffrey M. Markosky, Mahanoy City, Wildoner's lawyer, said Wednesday.
Police said the thefts came to light April 1, when the school district finance officer was notified by Wildoner that he lost a tax deposit for $171,145.86. Police said school officials checked the reports and deposit slips provided by Wildoner, along with a computer-generated list of taxes paid, and found that all of the numbers did not add up and $171,145.86 was missing and unaccounted for as of the end of the 2010 tax year.
The school district, township and county all have settled their claims with the bonding company that insured Wildoner.