Sheriff's Deputy Accused Of Stealing More Than $10K From Defendant

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- An Allegheny County Deputy Sheriff is off the force and accused of crimes while on the job.

"Once we found out about it, it was concerning, it was kind of shocking. We dealt with it immediately and notified the DA's Office," Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said.

Donald Modrick, 49, is a 16-year veteran of the department. Much of his job involved serving paperwork and collecting money as ordered in different civil court cases.

Detectives said the actions at issue spanned from January to October in the year 2017.

"The defendant is this case, who I can't name because there's an ongoing investigation, had two judgments issued against her," Chief Kraus said.

Officials said Modrick never served the writ to allow the money collection process to start. Instead, detectives said Modrick reported that he could not make contact with the defendant.

According to detectives, Modrick was collecting cash payments and business checks from her and keeping it all for himself.

"He instructed her to make those checks out to him which is in complete violation of any policy with the Sheriff's Office," Chief Kraus said.

Officials said this meant the plaintiff, who should have been receiving the money from the defendant, was not seeing a dime of the over $10,000 the defendant paid.

"We believe there was more than the $10,000, but as of right now the investigation has revealed just shy of $10,300," Kraus said.

Detectives said it was thanks to someone coming forward with information that prompted the criminal investigation.

Modrick's charges include theft, unsworn falsification and obstructing the administration of law. He was arraigned before magistrate Judge Olasz. Modrick is out on bond and ordered to not have any contact with the parties in the civil case.