Ex-law library chief, accused of offering workers stolen perks in lieu of raises, pleads guilty
A former director of the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, law library has taken a plea in a theft case over stolen perks he is accused of providing to workers, including himself, in lieu of raises.
Bruce Piscadlo, 62, pleaded guilty to felony theft by taking and a misdemeanor count of misapplication of entrusted property in exchange for having other charges dismissed, the Times Herald reports. He remains free on bail, and his sentence will be determined by the judge in the case.
He is accused of approving charges for items not used in the library, ranging from coffee and a soap dispenser to a camera, a computer, a printer and college textbooks allegedly purchased for a daughter of former law library bookkeeper Barbara Melnyk.
It says the situation was uncovered after the law library, which formerly operated independently, was put under the oversight of the county courts administration. A routine audit by the county controller’s office as part of the turnover revealed payments for college textbooks that did not appear to be law library-related. An investigation linked them to Melnyk, and in a written statement she said Piscadlo had approved non-library charges, the newspaper reports.
Meanwhile, another unidentified employee of the law library told investigators Piscadlo “offered the equipment in lieu of increased salaries that was out of his control,” the probable cause affidavit says.
The article doesn’t include any comment from Piscadlo or his legal counsel.
Related coverage:
PhillyBurbs.com: “Officials: Probe of misused Montco law library funds snares bookkeeper “
