Long time Bucks County Register of Wills, Barbara Reilly turned herself in to police Friday. She faces criminal charges that include theft by deception, conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
"She and the other defendants ran an office, which the people have intrusted to her, with iron hands in a way that elevated their own interests," said Bucks County Distsrict Attorney David Heckler.
A Bucks County Grand Jury determined that Reilly, Rebecca Keifer, and Candace Quinn forced office employees to perform political work using compensatory time so they would be paid at taxpayers' expense.
To make matters worse, as the 8-month investigation heated up, authorities allege that evidence was tampered with and destroyed.
"We have been repeatedly stonewalled, lied to, mislead. This case is really about arrogance and and a sense of entitlement," said Raymond McHugh, Bucks County Controller.
Also charged with fewer offenses is James McCullen, who worked in the Register of Wills Office for 23 years and seemed confused by the charges against him.
When asked if he was concerned about the charges, McCullen said, "Absolutely. It's very stressful."
Barbara Reilly earned over $84,000 a year as Register of Wills, a position she's held for 35 years.
The Grand Jury says she and the others treated the office as their own property, providing their friends with income for little work.
"It's a 200 page presentment, we have to read it. So we just received and we'll go through it," said Reilly's attorney, Michael Goodwin.
Authorities say the illegal activity may have gone on for years perhaps decades, and may have cost Bucks County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
