Former Montco Taxman Admits Stealing From School District

NORRISTOWN (CBS) - The former tax collector in Jenkintown, Montgomery County has admitted in court that he stole more than $225,000 in public funds from the school district.

Michael O'Neill could get three-and-a-half to seven years behind bars when he's sentenced early next year on a felony theft charge. Defense attorney Steve Fairlie says his 50-year-old client has a gambling addiction and he'll argue for a lesser sentence saying he can prove his client had no intention of keeping the money:

"He had done it for years and every year he would take out a home equity loan at the end of the year and make good on it. He would pay it off and this year he just didn't have the equity in the home."

Fairlie plans to call an expert witness on gambling at the sentencing hearing to explain O'Neill's addiction. Prosecutors are expected to argue for jail time given the amount of money that was embezzled. O'Neill hasn't paid back any of the money yet but hopes to before sentencing.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio