Town Supervisor in Montco Charged With Ripping Off Taxpayers
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- An elected official in Montgomery County is under arrest, accused of using his political influence to steal from the taxpayers of his township.
State prosecutors say Douglass Township supervisor Fred Ziegler is facing several counts of theft and receiving stolen property-- misdemeanors -- and several counts of conflict of interest and accepting improper influence -- felonies.
Authorities say the 61-year-old Barto (Berks County), Pa. man authorized township funds for new equipment, then had a township employee deliver that equipment to his home.
Ziegler also accused of misusing a township gasoline card.
According to court documents, the other employee told authorities he did it because Ziegler was his boss.
The investigation was turned over to the state attorney general by the Montgomery County DA's office because of a potential conflict of interest. Ziegler did some extradition work for the DA's office and was the former police chief in Douglass.
He was released on unsecured bail and faces a preliminary hearing late next week.