Pa. tax worker pleads in theft case

RIDGWAY, Pa. (AP) — A former county tax office worker in north-central Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $50,000 in payments.

Stephanie Kilhoffer, former Elk County Tax Claim Bureau officer manager, was sentenced to up to 24 months in jail with work release and five years of probation after a guilty plea Monday to a felony theft charge.

Kilhoffer was office manager from March 2007 to May 2009. The Courier-Express newspaper of DuBois reported today the investigation started that May after a resident said he received a notice of overdue taxes even though he had a receipt proving he had paid.

The 51-year-old Kilhoffer must also pay more than $56,000 in restitution. Her attorney said she was overwhelmed at the time by issues including depression, but that those issues have been resolved.