Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph G. Groody made it clear Monday that he will not provide round-the-clock security at the courthouse due to the investigation into Clerk of Courts Stephen M. Lukach Jr.
"I am not going to have my deputies waste taxpayers' money sitting around a dead office," Groody said. "We act in the scope of the law here."
Groody said Lukach, who will be resigning his office Thursday, is still the county clerk of courts until then and he cannot interfere with any work Lukach might do.
"He is only under investigation. He has not been charged with anything. He has every right to come in," Groody said, adding that he has not talked with Lukach for a couple of weeks. "We have no right to keep him from going to his office, and no one else has any right to keep him from going to his office."
District Attorney Christine A. Holman announced Friday at a news conference that Lukach was resigning in the wake of investigations into alleged misappropriation of county money.
She said Lukach was not at the courthouse on Monday during business hours. She added that her office doesn't have the manpower to stand guard over the clerk of courts office 24/7.
She alleged Monday that as late as April 8, Lukach wrote a check from the automation fund for personal use. She is still concerned about the possible further use of the checkbook.
Lukach, a Lake Hauto Democrat, could not be reached Friday or Monday for comment on the situation. He has held his position for 27 years, and is the county's senior row officer.
During Friday's news conference, Chief County Detective Dorothy "Dolly" Malec said county detectives and deputy sheriffs would provide round-the-clock security to prevent Lukach from possibly destroying evidence relevant to the investigation.
Malec declined comment Monday.
Groody said courthouse security is his responsibility.
"Nobody will stand guard at that office unless I give the orders," Groody said.
He said, however, that he will not interfere in any way with any investigation of the office.
Lukach's security card grants him access to the courthouse 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
"This is nothing political. We have no reason to revoke the card," Groody said. "If he were charged, it would be an altogether different matter."
However, Groody does not believe there is any danger that Lukach will try to destroy any evidence relevant to the investigation.
"He'd be arrested for that, too," Groody said.
Frederick J. Fanelli, Pottsville, Lukach's solicitor, said Monday he does not know when and if he will surrender that card.
"I have no information on the logistics," Fanelli said, and declined to comment on the investigation.