Western Pa. township official charged with stealing $39,000

DAISYTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man who resigned last month as a western Pennsylvania township supervisor last month has been charged with stealing $38,980 by allegedly writing himself 29 extra paychecks over the last two years.

Sixty-one-year-old Steven Hajdu declined comment at his arraignment on charges including theft, forgery and misapplying government funds entrusted to him.

Hajdu had been a supervisor in West Pike Run Township for more than 30 years, and was also secretary/treasurer and roadmaster before resigning from the job where he made $56,000 annually.

Washington County District Attorney Steven Toprani said Hajdu surrendered Wednesday, a day after telling a county detective that he wrote himself the payroll checks ranging from $500 to $1,500 since January 2009. Hajdu told investigators he needed the money because he was overwhelmed with credit-card debt.