Former councilor gets probation for theft | News, sports, jobs

HOLLIDAYSBURG – The former Altoona city councilwoman convicted in September of theft of services after failing to pay a bill at a local lodging house was sentenced Wednesday to six months’ probation and ordered to pay $131 in restitution.

Dauphin County Senior Judge Richard Lewis, who presided over a Blair County jury trial of Christie B. Jordan, 47, Hollidaysburg, also imposed a $200 fine and ordered her to complete 40 hours of community service.

Jordan, who ended six years on the Altoona City Council in December 2022, testified on her own behalf at the trial about arrangements she pursued to have the bill paid on her behalf. On Wednesday, she said in court that she still intends to have the bill paid to Allegheny Street Bed and Breakfast for her overnight stay on Jan. 11.

Outside court, Jordan acknowledged her interest in appealing her conviction, an option that attorney Tyler Rowles said he would discuss with Jordan. During the trial, Rowles took the position that Jordan’s actions did not meet the definition of criminal activity.

In handing down the sentence, Lewis sided with Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky, who told the jury that Jordan’s numerous excuses for not paying the lodging bill — which remained unpaid at trial — fit the definition of theft of services .

Before imposing the sentence, Lewis referred to testimony about the efforts of bed and breakfast owners Richard and Jyoti Latker to help Jordan make connections that she said would lead to her bill being paid. They also accepted two ID cards from Jordan when she left and indicated that a payment would follow.

“I believe the Latkers did their very best to get this resolved before they picked up the phone and called the police,” Lewis said. “With all due respect, it was a theft.”

Elensky asked Lewis to consider probation that was within the state’s standard guidelines.

“We are not looking for severe punishment here,” Elensky said. “We’re just looking for her to pay back the bed and breakfast.”

Latker proposed community service as part of the sentence, in light of the resources — three district court hearings and a jury trial — to address what Latker called “a petty theft.”

Rowles also asked Lewis to consider probation to address the second-degree felony charge.

Lewis told Jordan, after imposing six months of probation, that it would be possible to have the probation terminated after three months – if she has paid the restitution, fine and court costs and if she has completed her community service.

“Otherwise it’s six months,” the judge said.

The county probation and parole office will oversee her probation.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay

Stephens is at 814-946-7456.