A McKean County couple who tried to scam a Coaldale woman out of $85,953 pleaded guilty to some charges and were sentenced to 12 months probation.

Joseph M. Loveless, 61, of Turtlepoint, McKean County, was charged by Coaldale Police Officer Frederick J. Lahovski Jr. with criminal attempt to commit theft by unlawful taking; criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft, criminal attempt - theft, and two counts of criminal attempt of criminal use of communication facility on Aug. 13, 2021.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal attempt - theft by unlawful taking.

Schuylkill County Judge Charles M. Miller sentenced him to 12 months on probation and to pay court costs and fees.

Catherine I. Loveless, 67, faced the same charges and received the same sentence as her husband.

According to court testimony and documents, the woman received a phone call Aug. 26, 2021, saying she won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes and prizes and included a check worth $10.8 million and two Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

She was told to send three checks to the Lovelesses. Two were for $885. One was for $85,000.

When attempting to cash the larger one, the bank made a phone call to the daughter of the victim. The check was denied.

The would-be scammers were identified by bank photos against Pennsylvania Department of Transportation driver’s license photos as the Lovelesses.

Police filed charges Jan. 25.