New charge filed against former top cop

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - Girardville Police Lt. Jeremy Talanca at a borough council meeting in January 2023.

GIRARDVILLE – The embattled former officer-in-charge here is facing another fraud charge in Columbia County.

Jeremy Talanca, 47, of Berwick, was charged by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on March 27 for misdemeanor attempting to defraud creditors.

Deputies say items he placed in collateral from his car dealership were set to go up for sheriff’s sale to cover costs from a civil suit.

The sale was set for February and was postponed to March 20. At that time, Talanca did not show, and deputies did not have access to the property.

Deputies allege Talanca removed or concealed items to keep them from being sold, defrauding his creditors.

In a separate case, Talanca is facing several dozen counts each of felony theft by deception, felony tampering with public records, engaging in unprofessional conduct, misdemeanor false application for title, and making false promises of character. He is accused of selling vehicles to 27 people without having the title and without registering the vehicles in the customer’s name.

Girardville Mayor Michael Zangari said at Wednesday night’s council meeting that all ties between Talanca and the borough have been severed.

Talanca remains free on bail in both cases.

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