CONCORD TWP — Township supervisors discussed the possibility of withdrawing felony charges against former secretary Judith Stoops at a meeting Tuesday night.

Stoops, 54, was charged with multiple counts of felony theft and fraud in 2018 after she was accused of stealing more than $12,000 in township funds. Police said she used false mileage and health care reimbursement claims between January 2016 and March 2017.

Stoops served as the township’s secretary until October 2018.

Stoops was at Tuesday’s meeting at the township building along with a number of residents who urged supervisors not to withdraw the charges against her.

Resident Kandi Nassy, who served as a Concord supervisor from 2015 to 2021, said during public comment that supervisors should not interfere with the judicial process by withdrawing the charges.

“The state police took the case because they felt it needed to be looked into further. If there’s nothing wrong, it will be found out in a court of law,” she said. “Why can’t you let it go through the court system?”

Supervisor Bill Boyer agreed that the case should go through proper court procedures.

Supervisor Dave Hazlet said files were missing when the forensic audit was conducted, and an accurate account could not be determined.

“I disagree with you, I think the files have been tampered with,” he said.

Supervisor Ed Michael said he felt Stoops was unjustly fired from her position as secretary in 2018.

Residents asked Michael if he had read the forensic audit report. He said he had looked it over with the township solicitor.

“This whole thing is a witch hunt, I don’t need to read a report to know what’s going on here,” he said.

Other residents addressed Stoops, asking her questions regarding the alleged theft, to which she made no reply.

Following an executive session, supervisors did not vote on the Stoops issue.

Instead, Michael recommended to Stoops about how she should move forward.

“I thought this over very much, (Stoops), I think you need to get (Hazlet) subpoenaed in court, and I feel sure you’ll be OK,” he said.

The next township meeting will be at 6 p.m. July 12.