PHILIPSBURG — A Clearfield County woman who was formerly employed as secretary/treasurer of Rush Township, Centre County, has been charged with stealing more than $6,000 from taxpayers.
Jennette R. Sankey, 58, of Philipsburg, was charged with theft by unlawful taking and forgery — both felonies of the second degree — by Rockview-based state police and was arraigned in front of District Judge Allen Sinclair on June 5.
Sankey was released on her own recognizance, according to court records. Her preliminary hearing in front of Sinclair is scheduled for June 17. An attorney for Sankey has not yet been named on court documents.
According to the criminal complaint, Sankey admitted to forging a signature on one check drawn from township funds and depositing it into her own personal account. She also admitted to committing smaller thefts when she was employed at the townshiop from May 2023 to April 2025.
A township employee told troopers in September that he discovered Sankey forged his name on a check for $6,132 from the township’s general accounts.
Additionally, Sankey refused to cooperate with a certified public accountant’s 2024 audit of the township’s finances. The employee told troopers he surmised that Sankey’s refusal to cooperate with the audit was fear of the thefts being discovered.
Sankey resigned in April 2025 before she could be fired, the complaint said.
When Sankey’s alleged thefts became known, the township notified its solicitor, who sent her a letter, requesting that she answer specific questions about the use of township funds. Sankey replied in September with her own letter, threatening to release information that would cause “chaos” for the township. She asked in the letter that the two parties resolve the situation on their own.
After reviewing township records and financial information, police interviewed Sankey in February and March. Sankey admitted to forging the check as well as the additional smaller thefts.
