Former employee of small Centre County township accused of stealing thousands
A former secretary and treasurer for a small, rural township in Centre County was charged Thursday with stealing more than $6,000 in public funds.
Jennette R. Sankey, 58, of Clearfield County, was charged with felony counts of forgery and theft after state police at Rockview said she admitted to stealing the money from Rush Township during her roughly two-year tenure.
No defense lawyer was listed, a phone number for Sankey did not accept calls and the Centre County Public Defender Office said it was not representing her as of Monday.
A message left Monday morning with Rush Township’s attorney was not immediately returned. She worked for the township from May 2023 until approximately April 2025. An affidavit of probable cause indicated she quit before she could be fired.
A township representative told troopers Sankey forged his name onto a roughly $6,000 check, money that was transferred to her from one of the municipality’s general accounts. The representative said the money was never returned and remains unaccounted for, police wrote in the affidavit.
The township said it was not the first time Sankey deposited a check without proper authorization. The affidavit included other allegations of misused funds, everything from unsanctioned cash removals and time theft to physical theft.
Rush Township officials also told troopers Sankey refused to cooperate with a certified public accountant who was attempting to complete a 2024 audit.
After the alleged crimes came to light, the township’s attorney sent a letter to Sankey asking that she answer specific questions about the use of township money. In a response letter, a trooper said Sankey used threatening language aimed at the township and other members of local government.
She threatened to release information that she claimed would cause chaos if revealed and requested the matter be resolved amicably so everyone could “move on,” police wrote.
During a pair of interviews with troopers, police said Sankey admitted to forging a township official’s name on a check and smaller thefts. Police said she offered explanations for other allegations of misconduct, but the affidavit did not detail them.
She was arraigned Friday by District Judge Allen Sinclair, who released her pending her appearance at future court dates. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 17.
Pamela Hackenburg, a former secretary and treasurer for Gregg Township, was sentenced in September to two to four years in state prison for stealing nearly $533,000 from the township. In addition to the prison time, she was ordered to pay more than $615,000 in restitution.