UPDATE: Some Charges Dropped Against Baldwin Fireman Accused of Bilking Auto Repair Shop

UPDATE: Jankowski will have a non-jury trial at the Allegheny County Courthouse starting on March 5 (continued to May 1).

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Several charges have been dropped against a mechanic accused of ripping off the Collier Township auto repair shop where he worked.

Investigators withdrew three felony theft charges and four misdemeanor theft counts against Matthew R. Jankowski, 30, of Whitehall Borough, before his Oct. 15 preliminary hearing.

However, Jankowski, who once served as the vice president of Baldwin Independent Fire Company No. 1, waived to trial three felony charges of theft by deception at his preliminary hearing before District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet.

Collier Township police alleged that Jankowski, a former assistant manager at Mr. Tire Auto Service Center on Washington Pike, stole nearly $50,000 worth of parts and labor from Mr. Tire during a five-month period from December 2011 to May 2012. Upon his arrest in August, police said that workers at Mr. Tire discovered that he was voiding invoices after customers had paid him for repairs.

Collier police Chief Tom Devin said that it's not unusual for investigators to withdraw some charges in order to pursue other counts. However, Devin could not say what exactly prompted investigators to withdraw seven of the 10 theft charges.

Jankowski is free on $10,000 bond. His formal arraignment on the three remaining theft charges is scheduled for Dec. 3 at the Allegheny County Courthouse.

This article originally appeared on the ChartiersValley Patch.

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