A review by the state's auditor general's office has revealed that a former district magistrate secretary, who was arrested in 2007, may have stolen more than $55,000 from two district courts.

Kimberly Lehnhardt, 41, of Elizabeth, is scheduled to go to trial May 6 before Common Pleas Judge John A. Zottola on theft charges.

In November 2007, according to a criminal complaint, Ms. Lehnhardt admitted to supervisors that she took bags full of cash and checks home instead of depositing them at the bank. The audit reveals Ms. Lehnhardt also hid some receipts by not entering the transaction into court computers.

According to the audit, Ms. Lehnhardt stole $1,133 from the Sharpsburg district court, where she worked from May 2000 to March 2007, and then took $54,049 from the South Park district court from March to November 2007. She returned $44,040 in checks to the South Park magistrate, leaving $10,005 in cash unaccounted for.

In a news release, Auditor General Jack Wagner said the audit has been forwarded to the Allegheny County District Attorney's office.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.