by peter e. bortner
ORWIGSBURG - A Schuylkill Haven man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges that he stole money from his fire company this year.
Michael E. Trosper Sr., 54, of 110 E. Main St. Apt. 3, faces charges of theft and receiving stolen property. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound both charges over for the county court.
Trosper remains free on $2,500 unsecured bail pending further court action.
Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Trosper with stealing $630 from the Schuylkill Hose Company, East Union Street, between April 21 and June 23.
Police said Trosper, who headed the company's fundraising efforts, admitted taking the money and using it to buy food and gasoline.
The money came from Schuylkill Hose's biweekly 80-20 raffle sales, of which the company would distribute 80 percent of the receipts as prize money and keep the other 20 percent, police said.
Additionally, Trosper made up a story about someone entering his residence and taking the money in order to try to conceal his own thefts, according to police.Defendant: Michael E. Trosper Sr.
Age: 54
Residence: Schuylkill Haven
Charges: Theft and receiving stolen property