South Greensburg's former secretary admits to stealing from elderly father to repay borough

In an attempt to avoid going to jail and repay money he embezzled from South Greensburg accounts, a former borough secretary stole more than $60,000 from his elderly father and then lied about it in court.

On Monday, a contrite Dennis Lee Kunkle Jr. stood in a downtown courtroom and finally admitted to what he had done.

“I am very sorry for what happened, and I apologize to my friends and family,” an emotional Kunkle said. “I know I let them down and lost their trust. I hope I can earn it back.”

None of them attended to hear those words at the hearing Monday.

The 55-year-old Kunkle then pleaded guilty to four felony counts: theft, misappropriation of funds, perjury and receiving stolen property.

County prosecutors said Kunkle lied in court last year when he claimed the $101,000 he used to repay the borough came from his retirement account despite concerns from officials that the cash actually belonged to his father.

In December 2018, prosecutors charged Kunkle, saying he abused power of attorney over his father’s finances and used the elderly man’s money to make restitution payments. Over 11 months, Kunkle wrote 38 checks from his father’s account payable to cash, himself or his wife, police stated in court records.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced Kunkle to serve nearly two years in jail and repay his now 78-year-old father. The plea deal requires Kunkle not be paroled until next June, at the earliest. He has been in jail since last December and will serve a total of 18 months behind bars.

Police originally said Kunkle stole more than $75,000 from his father. The final amount was reduced as part of the plea bargain. Kunkle also agreed not to contest a probation violation hearing before Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway.

In that case, Kunkle pleaded guilty last year to six counts, including theft and tampering with public records, in connection with what investigators said was a systematic effort over five years to divert borough money for his private use. Kunkle worked for South Greensburg for more than three decades. As part of a deal to avoid a jail sentence, Kunkle paid the borough $101,000 and agreed to make $75,000 in additional payments.

Hathaway sentenced Kunkle to serve five years on probation, including one year of house arrest.

His sentencing in that case was delayed several weeks after officials became concerned about the source of the repayment funds. During a hearing before Hathaway, Kunkle testified he had used his retirement money and even stood to endure a tax penalty because took an early withdrawal.

Kunkle’s wheelchair-bound father testified last year that his son did not use his money.

Hathaway could revoke Kunkle’s probation and impose a new sentence on the original charges. That hearing has not been scheduled. Kunkle still owes nearly $83,000 in court costs, fines and restitution in the South Greensburg case.