SHENANDOAH — Felony theft charges against former Shenandoah Borough employee Joseph Michalik were held for court Thursday following a brief preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker.
The , hearing in Shenandoah lasted only a few minutes. Shenandoah Patrolman Leo Luciani, the investigating officer, was the only witness called to testify.
Charges Held for Schuylkill County Court
Luciani testified that the accusations contained in the charging documents were accurate.
Following the hearing, Kilker held both charges for court, moving the case to the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
Michalik faces two third-degree felony counts:
- Theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake
- Theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received
Allegations Involving Workers’ Compensation Checks
As previously reported by Skook News, the charges stem from allegations that Michalik retained eight workers’ compensation checks totaling $6,957.07. The checks were issued between September 2020 and July 2021.
The investigation included a report prepared by certified public accountant Joseph Yanushefsky and dated October 14, 2025.
Michalik was arraigned June 25, 2026, and bail was set at $25,000 unsecured.
All charges are allegations. Michalik is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.