Four Newtown officials charged with theft

Nothing like some municipal graft to start off the workweek.

Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green just announced (yes, a 9:25 p.m. press release does seem odd) that he has filed theft charges against four Newtown Township officials, including the tax collector and an elected member of the Board of Supervisors, for allegedly tapping the township's FedEx account for their personal use.

The defendants are George Clement Jr., assistant to the township manager; Gwen Toyzer, administrative assistant to the township manager; Marie Richards, the tax collector; and George Wood, a township supervisor. Green said all four have admitted to using the FedEx account and agreed to make restitution.

The total loss was only $1,231.44, most of which authorities attribute to Toyzer. That pales in comparison to other embezzlement cases in Delaware County in recent years (remember the $900,000 that Betty Greenawalt pocketed?).

But, then again, you kind of expect municipal officials not to rip off the taxpayers when no one's looking. Is that too much to ask?