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But he did it again to cover up the first theft, his lawyer said, and then again to cover up the second theft.
The total amount of forged loans — $912,000.
Clayton's guilt "was driving him nuts," defense attorney Mark Walmer told a Lancaster County judge Tuesday.
"He knew it was morally wrong," Walmer said, "and it was eating at him, destroying his mental health."
Deciding to commit suicide before the crimes came to light, Clayton dove off the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge and into the Susquehanna River in June 2008.
Miraculously, Walmer said, Clayton was unharmed.
"He believed he was saved for a reason," Walmer said. "He's a new person and has not wavered since."
Judge Jeffery Wright accepted Clayton's guilty plea to four counts each of forgery and identity theft, plus five counts of theft by deception. He ordered a background investigation before he imposes sentence.
Clayton, his voice breaking with emotion, turned to the group of supporters and bank executives in the back of the courtroom and apologized.
"I never wanted to hurt anybody else in this," Clayton, 28, of Morning Glory Lane, Manheim, told the spectators. "I was searching for things to make me happy, material things. I was lost."
"I've learned a lot from that experience, made a lot of friends and grown as a person. I found a reason and a purpose for living."
"With Christ by my side, I know I'm going to do good things and ask for your forgiveness."
After the suicide attempt, police said Clayton was only the second person to survive the 75-foot fall into the river.
Walmer said Clayton, after the suicide attempt, did what he could to make things right.
He confessed to bank officials and police and is in the process of repaying the money, Walmer said.
Because most of the money went to repay the earlier theft, Walmer said the actual amount of restitution owed is $328,724.
Assistant District Attorney Charles Rieck IV said the incidents happened between January 2006 and June 2008 while Clayton was employed at Union National Bank in Manheim Township.
Clayton filled out loan applications using the customers' stolen information, according to court documents.
He then forged their signatures and those of the bank employees who would typically approve loans, police said.
Clayton then opened secret checking accounts, depositing and withdrawing the stolen funds, according to court documents.
When one of the victims questioned a fraudulent loan in his name, bank officials began investigating the matter.
None of the bank customers lost money because of the incident, bank officials and police said at the time of Clayton's arrest. Clayton was immediately fired.
After Tuesday morning's hearing, Clayton and a representative of the bank hugged and prayed together in the hallway outside the courtroom.
Clayton will remain free on bail pending sentencing.
