United States (Pennsylvania) - A 44-year-old Coal Township man charged with stealing approximately $5,000 from Fairview Fire/Ambulance Company pleaded no contest Monday morning to one count of theft by unlawful taking, a felony of the third degree. Barry Strausser, of 842 W. Pine St., a former trustee and emergency medical services chief at Fairview Fire/Ambulance Company, entered the plea before Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage.

He will be sentenced following a pre-sentence investigation and restitution hearing.

An additional charge of theft of leased property will be withdrawn at the time of sentencing.

Strausser was represented at the guilty plea by Michael Romance, a county public defender. Assistant District Attorney William Cole represented the Commonwealth.

He was charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with third-degree felonies of theft by unlawful taking and theft of leased property. Each charge carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine.

Strausser, who has cooperated in the probe and turned himself into authorities in November, remains free on $15,000 unsecured bail.

He is charged with stealing $5,314.67 from the fire company/ambulance service and selling heart monitoring equipment before the equipment was paid for.

Police said Strausser obtained the equipment for the ambulance service under an agreement before selling the equipment to Tech Transport for $26,000. Police reported the defendant placed the $26,000 in the fire company/ambulance service account before withdrawing $8,000 and depositing it into his personal account.

Police said the offenses occurred between March 9, 2007, and July 10, 2008.

Written by The News-Item