PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two Magisterial District Court employees in Lower Merion are charged with altering court records and stealing fine monies.
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office says an investigation was launched in September of last year. Officials allege Magisterial District Court 38-1-07's office manager, Lisa Anne Shopa, 58, of Havertown and the court's traffic clerk Patricia Althouse, 54, of Ardmore conspired to intentionally steal money collected from traffic and parking fines, totaling nearly $7,500.
All parking and traffic-related offenses from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 of last year were reviewed.
It is further alleged that violations in the court computer system were marked "withdrawn" to cover up the theft, and instead of depositing collected fine monies into the court’s bank account, they were intercepted.
Shopa was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including tampering with public records, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by failing to make required deposits, and unlawful use of computer and computer trespass.
Althouse faces multiple felony charges, including theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by failing to make required deposits, and misapplying entrusted government/financial/institutional property.