A York County judge accused of telling his private law practice’s employees to fraudulently collect COVID-related unemployment checks has been accepted into a federal diversion program, court records show.

Days before his Nov. 3 trial was set to begin, York County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven Stambaugh, 62, accepted a deal to enter a pretrial diversion program, according to a court memorandum filed Tuesday Oct. 28.

He had faced up to 20 years in prison for the mail, wire fraud and witness tampering offenses, and 10 years in prison for the obstruction of justice charge.

By entering the program, Stambaugh will avoid having to enter a plea or face trial. He will have to complete certain government requirements and avoid other criminal infractions, court documents show. The charges

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