A former Concord Township secretary facing criminal charges for the theft of $12,000 in township money has been admitted into the accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD) program and ordered to pay restitution to the township.

Judith A. Stoops, 54, of West Sunbury was placed on 24 months of ARD probation for felony charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by failing to make required disposition of funds when she was admitted into the ARD program Wednesday in Common Pleas Court.

State police filed two counts of each of those charges against Stoops in October 2018 for submitting fake mileage and health care reimbursement claims between January 2016 and March 2017. The alleged thefts were discovered during an audit of the township’s budget. She has remained free on $30,000 unsecured bail since her arrest. She was terminated in October 2018.

The township requested restitution of $12,228.

“The township is going to get reimbursed for at least some of what she took. I’m glad that’s the end result,” said District Attorney Richard Goldinger.

Township supervisors could not be reached for comment.

Defendants do not have to plead guilty to the charges they are facing to get accepted into the ARD program, which allows first-time offenders to request to have their charges dismissed and have their records expunged if they complete their probation.

Stoops also serves as a judge of elections in the township.