NEW CASTLE — The fired treasurer of a Western Pennsylvania township has been charged with stealing nearly $800,000 from taxpayers during his 14 years in office.

Brian Tanner, 49, of New Castle, surrendered Wednesday as Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa announced more than 500 counts of forgery and theft-related crimes against Tanner.

Lamancusa’s office had obtained search warrants for Shenango Township records that suggest there were $1.2 million in questionable expenditures.

So far, Lamancusa said nearly $800,000 has been determined to be illegal. Tanner was fired from his $57,000-a-year job as secretary/treasurer in July.

That’s when auditors determined he wrote checks worth more than $453,000 to himself and a township auditor who was also fired.