PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A few weeks back, KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan told you about county assessor Joan Marie Morgano, who is charged with cashing 25 checks from the treasury of a publicly-funded assessor’s organization which she served as president.

Missing is more than $14,000 in taxpayer money.

Morgano’s attorney never returned phone calls and last week before a district justice in Uniontown — Morgano had her case waived to court to stand trial.

Today, Allegheny County relieved her of her duties. In a statement, the press secretary to Chief Executive Dan Onorato said:

“Given the circumstances, we felt it prudent to suspend Ms. Morgano without pay pending the outcome of her trial. This being a personnel matter we cannot comment further.”

But with the assessment in full swing and new property values set to begin appearing in mail boxes in the next two weeks — the county’s action is decisive.

With the Morgano case going to trial it’s unclear if she will ever get her job back. But for the time being, the county wants to ensure the integrity of the assessment process.

RELATED LINKS
Allegheny County Property Assessment
More Reports By Andy Sheehan