CRESSON — An Altoona couple’s number came up – and not in a good way – after police said they repeatedly cheated charity bingo.
Dennis Vaughn and his wife, Sharon, both of the 2700 block of Oak Avenue, reportedly cashed 88 bad checks totaling $16,785 over five months at a charity bingo to benefit St. Michael’s Parochial School in Loretto.
The Vaughns were arraigned on the charges this week before District Judge Charity Nileski.
The woman who operates the bingo said Thursday that she’s angry about the losses and about a recovery company’s failure to notify her in a timely manner of difficulties in getting the couple to pay.
The husband faces 49 misdemeanor counts and the wife 39 counts – two summary and 37 misdemeanors.
Dennis Vaughn was released after posting $50,000 bond. Sharon Vaughn was freed on $30,000 bond.
Sharon Vaughn supposedly cashed bad checks in amounts ranging from $60 to $250 between March 20 and April 24. Dennis Vaughn is accused of cashing checks ranging in amounts of $125 to $500 between May 1 and July 27.
St. Michael’s bingo is operated two nights a week for the school fund of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Chairwoman Myrna Hoover said.
Hoover said that, occasionally, there is a problem with a bad check, which ordinarily is resolved quickly by the recovery company.
“Only one time I had to take a woman to court for $4,000,” she recalled of the 17 years that she’s been in charge of the game.
This time, the company failed to notify her of the problems it was having in collecting the money, and the Vaughns continued writing bad checks before the practice was halted, Hoover said.
“I’m so angry about this. This is school funds,” she said.
With a $25 service charge for each bad check, the couple, if convicted, would owe more than $20,000, Hoover said.
Local News
Pair charged with writing bad bingo checks
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
