Man admits taking money from estate he was managing

A Carbon County man admitted in the county court on Monday of taking money from an estate he as appointed to the administrator.

John Aloysius Doyle III, 40, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a felony, for taking from the estate of a deceased Lehighton woman.

Lehighton police said Doyle was appointed administrator of the estate and given a check for over $130,000. A time later Doyle informed the lawyers in charge that he could no longer serve as administrator of the estate. He then sent them a check for about $79,000. Police, who arrested Doyle on Feb. 14, 2017, said an investigation revealed that Doyle took over $30,000 from the estate which he was not entitled to have. Part of a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office includes Doyle must repay the money.

In an unrelated matter, Doyle also pleaded to one count of driving under the influence. He was stopped on Sept. 24, 2017, by state police at Lehighton along Seventh Street in Lehighton. A test revealed a 0.15 BAC.

Judge Steven R. Serfass, who accepted the plea, deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.