Credit: Bensalem Police
A Bristol and Middletown man were among seven additional people arrested Wednesday in connection with a 18-month-long investigation into corruption in the Bensalem Township School District.
Richard Bolinski Jr., 52, of Harrison Street in Bristol and William O’Hara Jr., 38, of Terrace Road in Middletown’s Levittown section, were both charged with third degree felony theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. Both were arraigned Wednesday in Bensalem and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
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The two both worked on the district’s ground crew and were caught stealing gasoline, police said. Grounds crew co-workers Stephen Leonardo, 39, of Bensalem, and Paul Krex, 55, of Bensalem, were both also charged with stealing gasoline on Tuesday and face the same charges as Bolinski and O’Hara. Other grounds crew employees were charged during the first half on the investigation in early 2013.
It was also uncovered that bus driver Theresa Adams,, 63, of Trevose, conspired with head mechanic Frederick Lange, who was previously charged, stole about $1,000 of automotive parts from the district, police said. Adams was charged with first degree misdemeanors of theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. Her bail was set at $25,000 unsecured.
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Lange worked with CCC Heavy Duty Truck Parts employee Bruce Binder, 63, of Perkasie, to ship four 55 gallon drums of anti-freeze to a Smiths Automotive in Bristol Township, police allege. The shipment cost the district about $1,200 and was not intended for use on district vehicles, police said. He was charged with first degree misdemeanors of theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. His bail was set at $25,000 unsecured.
District custodian Frances Zemartis, 55, of Bensalem, was also arrested on Wednesday for stealing from the school he worked at.
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This week’s arrests cap a 18-month-long investigation between Bensalem police, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the district. Authorities arrested 20 people, including four Levittown-area residents, on February 13 for a “ghost” employee scheme and the theft and illegal distribution of school district vehicles, bus tires, batteries, and numerous automotive repair and replacement parts. Those 20 people have since entered negotiated plea agreements.
A letter from an anonymous tipster is what triggered the investigation. The letter was sent to then-new Superintendent Dr. David Baugh. The superintendent said he discovered the accusations in the letter appeared true after he spend only an hour and a half break in his day. That’s when law enforcement was called in.
Police ask anyone with information regarding past or current corruption or theft in the school district to call Detective Sergeant Bill McVey at 215-633-3758, or Detective Mark Kelly 215-633-3664.
