Former Whitpain Supervisor Sentenced On Seven Counts of Theft By Deception

Blue Bell resident and former Whitpain Treasurer William McKernan III was sentenced last Wednesday to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in county jail for stealing more than $1,500,000 from K.W. Reese and the Lower Gwynedd Little League.

In addition to the jail sentence, Judge Carpenter ordered that McKernan serve five years of probation, as well as pay full restitution to his victims.

"The sentence is fair and reflects the balance between the need to protect the public and the rehabilitation of the defendant," said Bruce L. Castor Jr., who served as McKernan's defense attorney. 

"It falls within the sentencing guidelines and thus is what you would expect to see given the facts of this particular case."

Dating back to 2005, McKernan repeatedly withdrew money from the accounts of K.W. Reese, who was a client of the McKernan family accounting firm.  Though initially using the money to pay off debt, McKernan's thefts quickly changed in purpose, supporting what Assistant District Attorney Kate McGill described as a "country club lifestyle".

Included in the lifestyle were trips to the Bahamas, luxury educations for his children, and even an evening where McKernan blew money at a strip club that had originally been earmarked for little league uniforms.

When K.W. Reese officials initially discovered that money had been stolen, they unsuccessfully tried to recoup the money without lodging criminal charges against McKernan.  Once it was realized that their efforts were futile, K.W. Reese notified the , who arrested McKernan in November of 2009.

In September of 2010, McKernan entered an open plea of guilty to seven counts of theft by deception.

"The District Attorney, appropriately so, took a very hard line and sought a much stiffer sentence than was imposed.  I knew there would be no plea agreement and did not seek one," said Castor.

Since his 2009 arrest, McKernan has fully reimbursed the Lower Gwynedd Little League, to a tune of near $57,000.  Additionally, K.W. Reese has received $900,000 to date.

Once McKernan has served 60 days in jail, he'll qualify for the work-release program.

"The judge ordered that he be eligible for work release after serving 60 days.  He has a job and a means to get there, so he will qualify," said Castor.

After his release from county jail, McKernan will have four years to finish making restitution, though Castor added that the timeline may be shortened or lengthened at the court's discretion.

There is also an ongoing civil case that the K.W. Reese company has filed against McKernan, in which Castor's firm will continue to represent him.