The 50th anniversary of the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad in 2013 has been marred by the announcement longtime volunteer and Treasurer James D. Krause, 45, of Schnecksville, was arrested for the alleged theft of some $100,000 from the organization during that time period.

According to Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Troop L, Reading and Hamburg, an internal investigation by shareholders of the non-profit WK&S discovered $31,498.81 was taken from the group's checking account; and $4,972.60 was taken from the savings account between January and December 2013, at Wells Fargo Bank.

In addition, $6,925.61 in fraudulent purchases were allegedly made using the railroad's credit card account at Home Depot between January 2013 and January of this year.

Another $15,304.22 in fraudulent purchases were made using the WK&S credit card account at Lowes.

Cash in the amount of $36,837 from train ride ticket sales was missing.

The total amount taken from the WK&S was $95,538.24.

Beohm said Trooper Alyssa Becker of Troop L, Hamburg, interviewed Krause Feb. 11 at the Hamburg Station.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause obtained from the office of District Judge Kim Bagenstose, Hamburg, Krause allegedly admitted taking the money during the interview.

The affidavit also states Krause returned the stolen items he obtained to the Hamburg Station between March 14 and 20.

Beohm stated Krause waived his preliminary hearing before Bagenstose.

Krause was formally arraigned May 5 at the Berks County Courthouse before Judge Paul Yatron.

He was charged with receiving stolen property, including numerous tools, jewelry, electronics, DVDs and appliances; theft by unlawful taking or disposition, regarding the missing cash; and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received regarding the purchases at Lowes and Home Depot and the checking and savings accounts.

Krause posted $10,000 unsecured bail.

This apparently is not Krause's first brush with the law.

In August 2000, the former Northampton County 911 center supervisor appeared in Northampton County Court to be sentenced for possessing child pornography before Judge Robert A. Freedberg, who gave Krause three- to 12-months in jail.

Krause had pleaded guilty in May of that year to sexual abuse of children for bringing digital pictures of children engaged in sex acts to the 911 center then showing them to co-workers in February 1999.

He was approved for work release, was fined $1,000 and ordered to obtain counseling.

According to published reports at the time, Krause, who lost his job at the Northampton 911 Center, was scheduled to start work as head of the Carbon County 911 Center on the day of his arrest in March 1999.