A 39-year-old home health care aide is accused of using the debit card of an elderly woman without her knowledge to the tune of more than $21,000.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Jennifer Ferrier, Cressona, used the debit card of Lois Fells, 81, a resident of Luther Ridge Nursing Home, Pottsville, while Ferrier was working as an aide. The card was used from October 2012 to Jan. 6 for cash withdraws, groceries, gifts and gas at various stores in Schuylkill County.
Ferrier was hired to transport Fells to and from appointments and to help with shopping and other errands, police said.
Fells was notified by her bank Jan. 6 that there were insufficient funds in her account to cover the transactions. As a result, state police conducted an investigation and determined Ferrier was the responsible party.
The card was used at Sheetz in both Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven, Wal-Mart Supercenter in Saint Clair, Giant grocery stores and Exxon gas stations and numerous ATMs along Route 61, police said.
A representative with Luther Ridge Nursing Home said Tuesday that Ferrier no longer works in the building and was not an employee of the nursing home. She worked for an outside contractor, the representative said.
Trooper Bernard Walasavage, the investigating officer, was not available for comment Tuesday.
Ferrier was charged with theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud. She was arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville. Bail was set at $15,000 unsecured.