The former secretary-treasurer of Lower Towamensing Township pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Thursday to stealing more than $81,000 from the township.

Dorothy Widmer Achey, 61, formerly of Kunkletown and now of Joliet, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of theft, as a felony three.She admitted taking $81,067.30 of township funds over a period of time by writing 102 checks to herself.Achey was a 22-year employee of the township.As part of a plea bargain, Achey will forfeit her pension monies to the township as part of a restitution order when she is sentenced. Senior Judge Richard W. Webb accepted the plea and deferred sentencing, ordering the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation.After accepting the plea, Webb heard a statement made by Ronald Walbert, a township supervisor.He said Achey was a trusted employee who violated that trust. He said the township paid her a salary of $35,000 per year, plus providing all types of benefits. He said, "She has never apologized for what she did and continued to fight the charges."He added that on the day she was confronted about the thefts she attempted to write another check to herself from the township account, but the township had placed a stop order on all transactions.