He stood before the judge nastily dressed in a dark suit and in a soft voice admitted that he failed to turn over to three taxing bodies tax monies collected in his job as tax collector for Ryan Township.

William G. Wildoner, 72, of 689 Barnesville Drive, Barnesville, entered a general plea to three counts each of theft by unlawful taking or disposing of moveable property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. Because it was not a plea agreement reached with the district attorney it means he placed himself at the mercy of the court.Judge Jacqueline Russell questioned Wildoner if the plea was voluntary, whether he understood the procedure in court, whether he had ingested any drugs or alcohol. She also told him he could face a maximum sentence of 21 years in jail.Russell reviewed the charges brought against him. "You were the tax collector for Ryan Township and failed to make tax returns to Ryan Township in the amount of $39,653.15, Mahanoy Area School District, $175,145.86, and the County of Schuylkill for property and per capita tax $146,733.71."Since it was a general plea Russell ordered a pre-sentence investigative report by the adult probation department and file the report to court. Russell told Wildoner he will remain free on bail and will be notified for date of sentencing.Wildoner had been tax collector for 35 years. He used the money for personal reasons including gambling. He was represented by Attorney Jeffrey M. Markosy.