Ex-College VP Accused Of Breaking Into Bucks Co. High School Facing New Charges

NEW BRITAIN TOWNSHIP, PA — One day before a former Bucks County Community College interim vice president was accused of breaking into Central Bucks High School West, police said he was seen manipulating the fire suppression system at a New Britain Township shrine.

Albert McLaughlin, 47, of Doylestown, has been charged with felony criminal mischief and a summary charge of trespassing for an incident on Aug. 2 at Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine on Ferry Road in New Britain Township.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by Patch and filed by the New Britain Township Police Department, McLaughlin was discovered around 9 p.m. by shrine maintenance personnel in the basement of the retreat center near the fire suppression equipment.

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 complaint said.

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.

According to the complaint, a further evaluation of the system by the Tustin Group determined there to be more than $8,000 in damages to the fire suppression system.

McLaughlin was arraigned on Aug. 28 before Judge Regina Armitage, who set bail at $50,000.

The incident at the shrine happened one day before McLaughlin was accused of breaking into Central Bucks West High School on August 3.

According to the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, McLaughlin squeezed through a construction fence to gain access to the school. Once inside, police said he stole clothing and food, rifled through a school infirmary, and took a shower.

He is charged with burglary, trespassing, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property for the high school incident. He is being held in Bucks County Prison on $100,000 bail.

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.

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.