Sep. 6--State Sen. Gerald LaValle's wife, Darla, already facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing money from a Rochester nonprofit she formerly directed, has been sued for failing to pay more than $8,000 in credit card charges.

Midland Funding LLC of San Diego, an assignee of Bank of America, filed a civil suit Aug. 8 in Beaver County Court against Darla LaValle, 68, of 612 Farm Lane, Rochester Township, claiming that she won't pay $8,180.65 in charges and debits.

"Despite reasonable and repeated demands for payment, (LaValle) has refused and continues to refuse to pay all sums due and owing," the lawsuit states.

Midland Funding asks the court to order LaValle to pay the amount owed as well as $328.68 in interest and other court costs. According to court documents, the lawsuit was served on LaValle through her son, Mark, on Aug. 19 at her house.

The lawsuit was filed just six days before LaValle was charged and arraigned Aug. 14 on 11 felony counts of theft and misapplication of entrusted property.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett's office alleges that as the executive director of the Voluntary Action Center of Beaver County, she paid herself an exorbitant salary and gave herself unauthorized pension contributions, even inflating her pension by excluding two office workers, including her sister, from the pension program.

After news reports detailed LaValle's compensation last year, she retired, repaid VAC about $91,300 and paid $30,200 in federal excise tax.

Gerry LaValle is retiring after representing the 47th Senatorial District for 18 years.

J.D. Prose can be reached online at jprose@timesonline.com.

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