ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An ex-city employee admitted in court Thursday that she put a noose on her own desk at City Hall in January, sparking calls for a federal hate-crime investigation.
LaTarsha Brown, 43, was charged with making a false report and tampering with evidence, both misdemeanors.
She was accepted Thursday into the Lehigh County’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.
Under the program, Brown must remain in the pretrial diversionary program for two years, the maximum time a person can be in ARD.Release from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan’s office
Under the program, Brown must remain in the pretrial diversionary program for two years, the maximum time a person can be in ARD, according to a release from District Attorney Gavin Holihan’s office.
Brown admitted to placing a small noose on her desk on the third floor of Allentown City Hall on Jan. 10, the release states.
She reported the item to police the same day, setting off an investigation by Allentown police and FBI agents.
Brown said she touched the noose after she didn’t immediately recognize it.
After obtaining her DNA through a search warrant.Authorities later determined Brown was the only person to touch the item
She also on Thursday was ordered to pay almost $2,000 to cover those DNA tests, the release states.
Brown in April waived her right to a preliminary hearing in magisterial district court and was released on unsecured bail of $1,000.
She is an Allentown School Board member whose term ends this year; she did not seek re-election.
Brown's employment with Allentown’s Department of Community and Economic Development ended in May.
City officials “are prepared to act swiftly to hold any individuals accountable” for the “horrible and unacceptable incident,” Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said in a statement seven months ago.
