NEW CASTLE — The district attorney says he hopes to file charges before Christmas in the theft of $1.2 million from a Western Pennsylvania township.

Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa tells the New Castle News he will push for a prison sentence and won’t agree to probation or house arrest after he files charges in the Shenango Township investigation.

Lamancusa won’t say who will be charged, but his office has previously obtained search warrants for records kept by Brian Tanner, who was fired as the secretary/treasurer in July. Tanner doesn’t have a listing for a working home telephone.

Tanner was fired after an audit determined he wrote more than 200 checks worth more than $453,000 to himself and a township auditor — who has also been fired — from 2011 to 2013.