A former University student and member of the State College Community Development Block Grant Citizens' Advisory Committee was ordered to stand trial Wednesday by District Magistrate Ronald Horner for allegedly forging her former boss's signature and withdrawing $4,600 from his business savings account.
Nichol E. Barlett, 22, of 916 Southgate Drive, was charged with forgery, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, stemming from incidents that occurred on Jan. 7, Feb. 8, March 24 and March 25.
The complaint was filed by Mark C. Maloney of MCM Property Management, who indicated that he never gave the defendant authorization to sign his name to make the withdrawals.
Barlett, a former member of the State College Planning Commission, denied involvement in the crime until she was shown a surveillance camera tape which documented her alleged criminal actions, court records said. In a police interview, Barlett said she believed she was exercising her right to take commissions from rental properties, which is covered under her current business agreement with Maloney.
In 1991, Barlett was a candidate for the State College Borough Council.
In other cases that appeared before Horner:
-- Another former University student and 1991 borough council candidate waived his preliminary hearing for charges of driving under the influence.
James E. Van Horn, 22, of Boalsburg, was charged with DUI stemming from an incident that occurred March 10 on South Atherton Street.
Van Horn was a candidate for Undergraduate Student Government president in 1990 and 1991 and was an editor of The Lionhearted.
-- A 34-year-old Julian man was ordered to stand trial for allegedly prowling outside State College Park Apartments, 349 W. Clinton Ave., on several occasions.
Jeffery H. Decker was charged with loitering and prowling at night, stemming from incidents that occurred on Jan. 5, Jan. 25 and Feb. 5. Horner dismissed charges of burglary and criminal trespass.
Three victims residing in the apartment complex testified they saw the defendant looking in their windows. But defense lawyer Jeff Rosenfeld argued that although Decker was inside the apartment gate all three times, he did not break in and was on property easily accessible to the general public.
