SMETHPORT — Former Bradford City human resources assistant Bonita J. Hillyard pleaded guilty Thursday to allegations she stole nearly $10,000 from the city.
Hillyard, 66, of Bradford, appeared in McKean County Court, where President Judge John Pavlock accepted a plea to charges of theft by deception and tampering with public records, both third-degree felonies; and misapplication of entrusted property and property of government or financial institutions, a second-degree misdemeanor.
When Hillyard was first charged in July 2017, she initially faced 69 charges, but some were consolidated at the time of her preliminary hearing, making 56. On Thursday, all but the three she pleaded to were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer noted that the plea was offered under the condition that she would pay the $9,749.61 in restitution before she entered the plea.
According to Shaffer, Hillyard was pleading guilty to allegations that between Jan. 1 and July 10 in 2017, she claimed that she worked 387 hours of overtime that she did not work, taking a total of $9,749.61 from the city of Bradford’s general fund.
City officials have indicated that the amount Hillyard actually took was much higher.
“We still maintain that the total amount taken was far greater than what she was actually convicted for, probably closer to $100,000 as was originally stated,” said Bradford City Mayor Tom Riel. “Between restitution and bonding insurance, the city has recovered the majority of that $100,000.”
Riel and Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco were satisfied with the way the case played out.
“The City of Bradford is thankful for the outcome of this very sad and unfortunate situation,” said Riel. “The real victims in this case are the more than 8,000 residents and taxpayers whom the money was stolen from.
“Chief Lucco did an outstanding job with the investigation,” the mayor continued. “The charges pled to today fall under the Pension Forfeiture Act, meaning she lost her pension benefits as well. Measures have been put into place to insure that such actions can never occur again.”
For his part, Lucco said, “I am glad that we can finally put this behind us and move on. It is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved; however, I was pleased that she took responsibility for her crimes.”
By entering a plea, she prevented further burden on the taxpayers, Lucco indicated.
“I was fairly confident that we would be able to avoid a trial with the amount of evidence we had compiled and her confession at the time of her arrest. A trial would have only cost the taxpayers additional money and resources that would be better used elsewhere.”
Smethport attorney James Miller represented Hillyard.
She will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Aug. 30.
Hillyard was employed by Bradford City for more than 18 years.
