The former Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts is due for sentencing later this month for his role involving mail fraud and falsification of records.

Stephen M. Lukach Jr., Nesquehoning, has a 2:30 p.m. Oct. 20 court date at the William J. Nealon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Scranton.

U.S. District Judge Robert Mariani signed an order Tuesday continuing the sentencing, which was previously scheduled for Oct. 6.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Leo Latella filed a motion to continue sentencing earlier this week citing how family and friends want to testify at the sentencing hearing.

“Mr. Lukach’s family and friends have requested additional time to arrange their schedules to attend. Additionally, due to COVID-19 concerns it is possible that requests will be made to testify via video conference,” the motion reads, which requested a two-week delay.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio didn’t agree with the continuance request, documents show.

Lukach pleaded guilty August 2019 in Mariani’s courtroom to mail fraud and falsification of records. A federal grand jury indicted Lukach July 18, 2018, of 21 counts that included mail and wire fraud, and falsification of records. The investigation started when former County Controller Christy Joy’s office conducted an audit of the office.

Lukach faces up to 40 years in prison and a substantial fine. He resigned in 2014.

Clerk of Courts Maria Casey said Tuesday she will “testify to the harm he caused to the taxpayers and how the women in my office have been reporting him for years for his various illegal activities, and they were uniformly ignored.”