SUNBURY - A suspended correctional officer/maintenance man at Northumberland County Prison accused of keeping approximately $320 he received for scrap metal instead of turning the money over to the prison is scheduled to go to trial later this month on theft-related charges.
Shane Hoffman, 39, of Sunbury, will face a jury trial before Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest on July 18, 19 and 20 on charges of institutional vandalism, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
A pre-trial conference was held Friday to review any matters dealing with the case.
Hoffman's attorney is Frank Kepner of Berwick. First District Attorney Ann Targonski will prosecute the case.
Hoffman, who remains suspended without pay from his position, is charged by then Sunbury Patrolman Wade Lytle in connection with incidents that occurred between 2008 and early 2009.
Lytle, who is now an officer with Point Township Police Department, said Hoffman allegedly was in charge of taking scrap metal from the prison, such as old aluminum cots and brass and copper pipes, to Jeff's Recycling Center near Paxinos. The officer said Hoffman is charged with keeping $320.96 he received for the scrap.
Lytle said Hoffman was supposed to turn in the money to then Deputy Warden John Conrad, who is his father-in-law.
Conrad was suspended with pay on Feb. 4, 2009, by the county prison board before being fired on March 25, 2009, after 18 years of service at the prison. The reasons for Conrad's suspension and firing were never revealed by the prison board.
Lytle said Hoffman's charges were not related to Conrad's suspension.
The officer said Hoffman was also charged with breaking into the locker of fellow maintenance employee Don Keeley. Lytle said nothing was reportedly stolen from Keeley's locker.