ARREST IN EMBEZZLEMENT

Last week, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced the arrest of Sean Patterson, a former employee of the Chester County Treasurer’s Office, who is accused of embezzling more than  $5,000 from the office. He was arrested after an investigation by the Chester County Detectives. 

“Theft of taxpayer funds by a government employee is an extreme abuse of trust,” Hogan said. “The public has a right to expect government employees to do their jobs honestly.” 

Chester County treasurer Ann Duke said, “The internal controls we have placed in our office allowed us to discover this issue and provide thorough documentation to the County Detectives. My office immediately responded by suspending all access to this employee and notifying the Detectives. I am very proud of my staff for their ability to discover this matter, after having picked up on a small discrepancy.” 

Patterson is 27 years old and lives in West Chester. He worked in the treasurer’s office from 2011 until the fraud was discovered. 

On May 7, employees from the treasurer’s office contacted the Chester County Detectives. Through witness interviews and account analysis, it was determined that the defendant was accepting cash payments from taxpayers. He then would manipulate the county computer accounts to cover up the thefts. 

Patterson stole a total of $5,866.51. His fraudulent adjustments within the county’s accounts created an additional loss of $4,386.40, meaning that the total loss is $10,252.91. 

Patterson has been charged with felony theft, tampering with public records, and related offenses. 

WARRANT LEADS TO DRUG ARREST

On May 17, officers from the Pennsylvania State Police Avondale barracks investigated a report of a wanted person at 109 W. London Grove Rd., London Grove, and found Samuel James McKeith, 23, of London Grove, in possession of more than 100 empty heroin baggies and related paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken to Chester County Prison. Anyone with more information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.

DUI AND METH ARREST

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale arrested Archie Freeman Mundy, Jr., 54, of Avondale, on May 13 after a traffic stop at State Road and Route 896. He was arrested for DUI and possession of methamphetamine.

SHOT FIRED INTO HOME

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale reported that on May 14 at 9:45 p.m., a shot was fired through the bedroom wall of a home at 278 Upland Rd., East Marlborough Township. The home was occupied at the time, but no injuries were reported.