Allegheny County sheriff’s deputy fired, arrested on felony theft charges

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested Thursday on felony theft charges, accused of pocketing more than $10,000 he had collected from a defendant as part of a civil court case.

Deputy Donald M. Modrick, 49, of West Mifflin, was fired after he turned himself in about 10 a.m. on charges of theft, receiving stolen property, misapplication of entrusted property, unsworn falsification, obstructing administrative law and official oppression.

Mr. Modrick, who was hired in 2001, worked in the sheriff’s writ division, and part of his job was to collect money from defendants in civil cases after a judge ordered them to pay plaintiffs.

Typically, deputies collect money from defendants, then turn the money into the sheriff’s office, which, in 10 days time, gives the money to the plaintiffs, Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said Thursday. However, Mr. Modrick kept money he collected from at least one woman, according to a criminal complaint.

Authorities say Mr. Modrick collected at least $10,275 from Tanis Cochrane, owner of Buono Bros. Memorials, a business that makes gravestones in Dravosburg. Ms. Cochrane had been ordered to pay $7,934 and $5,155 to two granite companies that sued Buono Bros., claiming they delivered granite for which they weren’t paid.

Investigators believe Mr. Modrick, a personal friend of Ms. Cochrane’s, collected 18 checks from the woman — which she made out to him — and deposited the money in his personal bank account instead of handing it over to the sheriff’s office. Ms. Cochrane also made several cash payments to Mr. Modrick — believing she was paying the courtordered judgments.

Investigators aren’t sure exactly how much cash was exchanged but Ms. Cochrane estimated she gave Mr. Modrick $15,000 in cash and checks between January 2017 and October 2017.