William G. Wildoner, who admitted stealing almost $400,000 in public money while serving as Ryan Township's tax collector, left the Schuylkill County Courthouse in handcuffs Wednesday after being sentenced to spend at least 1 1/2 years behind state prison bars.
Wildoner, 73, of Barnesville, did not react as Judge Jacqueline L. Russell sentenced him, pursuant to a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, to serve 18 to 60 months in a state correctional institution.
Russell also sentenced Wildoner to submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $377,328.04 restitution.
The restitution will be divided among three governmental bodies: $177,145.86 to Mahanoy Area School District, $166,609.24 to Schuylkill County and $39,572.94 to Ryan Township.
Wildoner pleaded guilty to three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition. Prosecutors withdrew three counts each of theft and receiving stolen property.
Wildoner said little during the hearing except to indicate that he understood the terms of his guilty plea and that it was voluntary. He said nothing as he was led away to prison.
State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Wildoner with stealing the money 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.
Police said the thefts came to light April 1, 2011, when Wildoner notified the school district finance officer 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.
Jeffrey M. Markosky, Mahanoy City, Wildoner's lawyer, and First Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Campion Jr. each declined to comment on the case after Wednesday's hearing.Defendant: William G. Wildoner
Age: 73
Residence: Barnesville
Crimes committed: Three counts of theft by deception
Prison sentence: 18 to 60 months in a state correctional institution
