Central Bucks West Intruder Ordered Into Rehab Program

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A man charged with burglary at Central Bucks High School West and trespassing at the National Shrine of Czestochowa in New Britain last summer, will enter into a rehabilitation program for first-time offenders with a chance for dismissal and expungement of the charges from his court record.

Albert McLaughlin III, 47, of Doylestown, was arrested in August by the Central Bucks Regional Police for illegally entering Central Bucks West High School. Several weeks later, he was charged with defiant trespassing for a separate incident at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in New Britain.

At a preconference/guilty plea hearing on Jan. 8, President Judge Raymond McHugh ordered McLaughlin to attend the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for 12 months and pay $17,499 in restitution to the shrine for damages.

He was also ordered to complete 10 hours of community service, undergo a mental health evaluation, pay court costs, and to have no contact with the school district or the shrine.

The ARD program is a pre-trial intervention program aimed at first-time, non-violent offenders. The goal is to provide participants with an opportunity to avoid a criminal record by completing certain requirements, such as rehabilitation and community service.

Successful completion of the program can lead to the dismissal of charges and the expungement of the arrest record.

McLaughlin was arrested in early August by the Central Bucks Regional Police Department for illegally entering Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown Borough. He was charged with burglary, trespassing, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property.

Police said McLaughlin squeezed through a construction fence to gain access to the school on August 3. Once inside, police said video surveillance showed him stealing clothing and food, riffling through a school infirmary, and taking a shower.

Later in August, New Britain Township Police filed additional charges against McLaughlin for trespassing at Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine on Ferry Road.

According to a court documents, McLaughlin was discovered around 9 p.m. on August 2 - the day before the Central Bucks West burglary - in the basement of the retreat center manipulating the fire suppression system.

McLaughlin, who was not authorized to be in the basement, told maintenance personnel that he had turned on the maintenance override switch for the sprinkler system, the court documents said.

He was charged with felony criminal mischief and a summary charge of trespassing.

Police said after investigating the incident, it was determined that McLaughlin had no legitimate reason for being in the basement. In addition, a further investigation by the Chalfont Fire Department determined that McLaughlin had manipulated the manual override, which activated the pump motor and potentially caused damage to the system.

After the incident at the high school came to light, McLaughlin, who had just started a new job as an interim vice president at the Bucks County Community College, was placed on administrative leave. His employment was later ended.

According to the college, McLaughlin was employed from July 14 to August 7 as interim vice president for enrollment management. He was hired through normal procedures, which included standard background checks and professional references, the college said.

"He was neither a faculty member nor a dean and is no longer employed by the college effective August 7, 2025," according to a statement released by the college.