Ex-treasurer, secretary of small Centre County township pleads guilty to $533K theft
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Former township official pleads guilty to theft of nearly $533,000 since 2019.
- Investigation revealed gambling payments and falsified financial records.
- Supervisors added oversight, aim to recover losses through insurance claims.
A former secretary and treasurer accused of stealing nearly $533,000 from a small township in Centre County pleaded guilty Monday to felony theft charges.
Pamela D. Hackenburg, 56, of Union County, pleaded guilty to felony counts of theft, identity theft and access device fraud, Centre County Deputy District Attorney Crystal Hundt said. A felony charge of receiving stolen property was dropped.
There is no negotiated sentence as part of the plea deal, meaning Hundt and defense lawyer Helen Stolinas are slated to make their case at a Sept. 16 hearing in front of Centre County Judge Katie Oliver.
During what could be an hourslong sentencing, Hundt said she plans to ask that Hackenburg be ordered to pay full restitution. She also intimated that township officials could offer impact statements. Stolinas declined comment.
Gregg Township Supervisor Ben Haupt described the agreement as a “relief” for the rural township in Penns Valley.
“We’re thankful for getting some closure on this,” Haupt told the Centre Daily Times.
Hackenburg was charged in November after state police at Rockview said troopers were contacted about missing funds from the township’s accounts.
A township maintenance worker received a unexpected credit card statement in the mail and reported numerous transactions with the gambling company DraftKings, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
Hackenburg was hired by the township in January 2019. She was the only person with password access to 14 accounts and had a locked office where should would “never allow anyone inside,” police wrote.
“It was a mess,” a trooper wrote after an accounting service went through Hackenburg’s office as part of an audit. “There were piles of papers, old checks signed but not deposited, no filing system, and nothing was up to date.”
The accountants told investigators the township’s finances were in order until Hackenburg was hired. They said she was able to keep the theft hidden by jumbling balances and fabricating budget data that was given to the supervisors.
She was accused of stealing nearly $533,000 between March 2019 and May 2024. That included about $20,000 per month on DraftKings since January 2023, police wrote.
One township fund included a $500,000 loan for a road project that was not started. Troopers said she spent $20,000 at a time to pay off the township’s credit card balance.
The township has hoped to recover at least some of the money through its insurer. John Lhota, who served as the township’s solicitor during an August meeting, said the stolen amount falls within the township’s bond limits.
Supervisor Vicky Vanada was hired to fill Hackenburg’s position at a rate that was expected to increase to $22.50 per hour. The board also voted to require that supervisors must pass an annual state police background check.
“There’s been more implemented than there ever has been in the past,” late Supervisor Charles Stover said in August. “As soon as we can, there will be a complete, full report for the public.”
Faced with questions from taxpayers wondering if the board was lax in its oversight, Haupt spoke with the CDT after the August meeting and expressed confidence the board has taken the appropriate steps in response.
“You need to trust, but verify. We’re putting steps in to have more verification than ever,” Haupt said. “Going forward, that’s what is going to help us to clean this mess up.”
Hackenburg was suspended without pay in May 2024 and was fired in December. She remains free on $500,000 unsecured bail. Gregg Township’s next board of supervisors meeting is scheduled for Aug. 14.
.JPG "image_123650291 (4).JPG")
This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM.