By Marcia Moore
SUNBURY — Northumberland County’s former drug and alcohol program director waived theft and conflict of interest charges to the Court of Common Pleas Monday.
Samuel Williamson, 60, of 289 Main St., Turbotville, is accused of funneling $12,000 into a slush fund and billing another employer during hours he was being paid by the county, according to the state attorney general.
County officials were tipped off about the alleged irregularities before Williamson’s retirement in December 2007, but it took several years before charges were filed a month ago.
Accompanied by Williamsport attorney, Ron Travis, Williamson quietly waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Bolton in Sunbury Monday afternoon.
The state alleges that while serving as director at the county agency, Williamson stole $12,625 in client assessment fees and kept it in an office “slush fund,” some of which he spent buying gifts for employees, children and clients.
He also allegedly approved several county contracts for counseling services provided by firms he had worked for and provided 400 hours of counseling services for other agencies while he was supposed to be working for Northumberland County.
