Trial on tax-theft charges in Hermitage will be delayed

MERCER, Pa. -- A trial has been delayed for a former Hermitage receiver of taxes accused of diverting nearly $70,000 in tax money to her own use.
Rosemary Moses, 64, of Hasenflu Drive, was scheduled to go to trial this week on charges of failure to make required disposition of funds received, theft by unlawful taking, tampering with records of identification and tampering with public records or information.
However, the case was postponed until the April term of the court, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County district attorney's office said Monday.
Moses had served as receiver of occupational privilege and wage tax receipts for the city of Hermitage and the Hermitage School District from July 1982 until her retirement in February 2000.
Calculations: She was arrested May 30, 2000. Officials originally estimated she had taken more than $81,000 between 1987 and late 1999, but later lowered that figure to $68,951, saying it was only a guess because Moses had destroyed certain tax records.
Capt. Ernest Marenchin, testifying at Moses' preliminary hearing in August 2000, said Moses admitted shredding certain documents and taking "a considerable amount of money," but said she used it for items for her tax office.
She wasn't able to produce any receipts for the purchase of office items, he said at the time.
Moses remains free pending trial.