A Jim Thorpe man admitted in Carbon County court on Thursday to his part in stealing a large amount of money from the Palmerton Community Ambulance Association.

Donald K. Weaver, 55, entered his plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika. However, before the court accepted the plea it questioned the commonwealth attorney about the charge Weaver was pleading to.

The stipulated agreement with Weaver and the commonwealth called for him to plead to one count of theft, as a misdemeanor 1. Matika noted a misdemeanor one count means the theft involves property valued up to $2,000. He asked why that agreement since the police charged Weaver and his wife, Danielle Weaver, with taking over $144,000 from the ambulance association. Matika said based on that the theft should be rated a felony.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph D. Perilli, who is prosecuting the case, said the agreement was reached after it was determined by his office that they would have a hard time proving the theft involved $144,000. He said there was no forensic audit done, but the figure was determined by members of the governing board of directors. He said there was some poor bookkeeping done and some poor decisions made. Referring to the amount taken, he called it a “loose number.”

Despite those determinations by the commonwealth, as part of the plea deal, Weaver will repay the association $70,000. According to state police at Lehighton, the money thefts occurred over a period of 2016 to 2020, when a director in the association found checks that were written to the defendants and others that were questionable.

Matika accepted the plea, but deferred sentencing ordering the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Also, Weaver will apply for the house arrest program.

The case involving Danielle Weaver is at the pretrial stage, according to court records.