NEWPORT TOWNSHIP -- A former township manager in Luzerne County was in court Wednesday morning accused of stealing tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
Richard Zika, 72, was charged with stealing more than $150,000 from Newport Township.
Police say the thefts happened while he was the township manager between August of 2008 and March of 2016.
According to authorities, Zika wrote himself checks from the township refuse account, labeling it as an administration fee.
Zika resigned from his position when the investigation began and now faces several charges in Luzerne County.
