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Northumberland County Official Arrested for Theft

SUNBURY — A Northumberland County official was arrested Wednesday morning on theft charges. Justin Dunkelberger is the prothonotary in Northumberland Coun...

SUNBURY -- A Northumberland County official was arrested Wednesday morning on theft charges.

Justin Dunkelberger is the prothonotary in Northumberland County. He was taken out of the courthouse in handcuffs.

Officials said the money was not public money. It was in a scholarship fund that honors the memory of a longtime Shikellamy wrestling coach. Dunkelberger was one of the people in charge of the fund. He is accused of stealing more than $11,000.

The "Lockcuff Memorial Scholarship Fund" was started in 2013 after longtime Shikellamy wrestling coach Philip Lockcuff died.

"He was respectful to everybody. He wasn't all about winning; he was all about having fun. He was never hard pushing on anybody. He was pretty good with them," said Thomas Magill of Sunbury.

Between April and September of 2013, Dunkelberger is accused of stealing the money for his campaign fund and personal use.

"It's crazy. I don't know how he can live with himself doing that," said Ben Kilgore.

"I think it's a real scumbag thing to do," added Magill.

Dunkelberger is charged with three felony counts of theft. He was not home when Newswatch 16 stopped by his house near Northumberland.

According to court papers, the other person running the fund became suspicious when he noticed money was missing.

Since Dunkelberger was not charged with stealing taxpayer money, he is still the Northumberland County prothonotary. That means he can return to work at the Northumberland County Courthouse any time he wants.

"He is an elected official, not an employee. The commissioners have no authority over that. He answers to the people who voted him into office," explained Northumberland County Commissioner Kym Best.

Commissioner Kym Best says the state auditor general will soon review the prothonotary's accounts.

"We feel that that's the best practice. We want to have the authority of the state come in and look at the prothonotary's accounts which Mr. Dunkelberger would have had access to," said Commissioner Best.

Dunkelberger was elected Northumberland County's prothonotary in 2013.

Commissioners say the only way Justin Dunkelberger can be removed from office is if he is convicted of the crime and Northumberland County residents petition the court. Dunkelberger posted bail and can return to work at any time.

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