SMETHPORT — A Bradford woman pleaded guilty to allegations that she stole more than $23,000 from a Port Allegany church while she was employed there.

Pamela J. Hamilton, 53, of Bradford, appeared Thursday in McKean County Court before President Judge John Pavlock. She entered a guilty plea to a charge of theft by unlawful taking, a third-degree felony.

According to District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer, while Hamilton served as financial secretary at the First Baptist Church of Port Allegany, she took $23,743.76. Hamilton did this by taking from the weekly offering and by writing checks from the church without permission.

During her court appearance, Hamilton told Pavlock that she has been in therapy for a year and wondered if she would be able to continue therapy while she served her sentence.

Pavlock explained that he did not have enough information to answer her question and asked her to bring it up at the sentencing hearing.

Chief Adult Probation Officer Jodi Tanner asked about a payment agreement, and defense attorney Jeffrey Weinberg said no payment agreement has been made yet.

Pavlock told the prosecution and defense to work out a payment plan before the sentencing hearing so that he will be able to order regular restitution payments.

Hamilton will be sentenced at 1 p.m. April 1. She is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.