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<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A receptionist for the dental clinic at Luzerne County Community College was charged Wednesday with stealing cash deposits from July 2016 to September 2017.</p><p>Melissa Sue Taney, 43, of Seventh Avenue, Berwick, surrendered on charges of theft and tampering with public records after a review showed a discrepancy of $7,789 that should had been deposited, according to court records.</p><p>Taney was a receptionist/secretary at the college&#8217;s dental clinic and accepted payments from patients for dental service.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint:</p><p>Rachel Coffee, director of the dental clinic, notified the director of college security, William Barrett, in October that there was a discrepancy between payments from patients and what was submitted to the college for deposit in a bank.</p><p>Coffee noticed the discrepancy when Taney was off from work Oct. 5.</p><p>On this day, Coffee opened a safe to make change for patients and noticed there was no cash. When she questioned Taney about the missing cash, Taney claimed she had a secret hiding spot where she puts the money.</p><p>Coffee instructed Taney to stop putting money in a hiding place and to keep the money in the safe.</p><p>Not comfortable with Taney&#8217;s explanation, Coffee reviewed patient logs and deposits and found numerous discrepancies.</p><p>Coffee said deposit sheets were tampered and altered by Taney, reflecting patient payments and what Taney actually submitted to the college.</p><p>In addition, Coffee reviewed grant sheet applications for programs and services provided to patients. They were also altered.</p><p>Taney was arraigned by District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke on three counts of theft, two counts of tampering with public records and a single count of receiving stolen property. She was released on $75,000 unsecured bail.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Employee at LCCC dental clinic accused of stealing cash