Courts Accept Plea Agreement in Landlord's Water Meter Bypass Case

He admitted his guilt, and sought a plea bargin. Montgomery County accepted, and now he'll only face three years of probation and fines instead of jail time. What'd he do? He cheated the meter reader (and ultimately the Borough's Water Authority).

"Francis X. McLaughlin, 48, of the 400 block of Schoolhouse Road, East Coventry, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft by unlawful taking in connection with incidents that occurred in 2012," said the Pottstown Mercury report.

McLaughlin, who is a landlord to 16 units in both Pottstown and Pottsgrove areas was found to have installed such devices, which were desiged to bypass water meters, on eight of his properties, according to the Mercury's report. McLaughlin will be forced to pay "a total of $28,913 in restitution to the borough, including $19,025 in stolen water costs."

As Patch noted September 2012, such devices have been the topic of much debate, including a full on grand jury probe.

For the full story on this case, visit the Mercury's report here.