Mt. Lebanon couple accused of stealing $40k from Peters company
A Mt. Lebanon couple was charged with theft May 19 after Peters Township police said the pair allegedly stole more than $40,000 from the woman’s former employer.
Alyssa Michelle Havelka, 25, and Michael D. Schmitt, 32, of 125 Central Square, were arraigned before District Judge James Ellis.
Havelka is charged with one count each of theft and theft by deception. Schmitt is charged with six counts each of theft by deception, access device fraud and forgery, and one count of receiving stolen property.
Police were notified of the theft in late April by the owner and an employee of Prominent Payroll, which conducts business as Bean Counters at 506 Valleybrook Road. Havelka allegedly stole six checks from the business and turned them over to Schmitt, who is identified in court documents as her boyfriend.
Havelka reportedly was recently hired by the company. Police said the checks were processed through a PNC bank without authorization and deposited in Schmitt’s account. The signature of the company owner was forged on the checks, police said.
Five checks were fully processed, totaling $40,652 in losses to the company. Payment of a sixth check written for $12,500 was stopped before the money was taken out of the company’s account. Police said the company also is out bank processing fees.
Havelka and Schmitt were released on their own recognizance and were scheduled to appear May 30 for their preliminary hearing before Ellis.