Pennsylvania, not Schuylkill County, prosecutors will handle the case of the Cressona woman charged with using an elderly woman's debit card for more than $21,000 worth of cash withdrawals and purchases, county District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon said Wednesday.
Jennifer L. Ferrier, 39, who faces charges of theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud, is scheduled to appear for her preliminary hearing at 11:30 a.m. March 8 before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.
However, Byrnes-Noon said that in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety, lawyers from the office of state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane will prosecute Ferrier, since the defendant's father is Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.
"Members of our office go in front of Magisterial District Judge Ferrier on a weekly basis," Byrnes-Noon said. "We feel it's a conflict of interest."
Representatives of Kane's office did not return telephone or email inquiries Wednesday about the case.
State police at Schuylkill Haven have charged Jennifer Ferrier, a home health care aide, with theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud in connection with the incidents, which they alleged occurred from October 2012 through Jan. 6.
Police allege Jennifer Ferrier obtained the debit card of Lois Fells, 81, a resident of Luther Ridge Nursing Home, Pottsville, and used it at various county stores to get cash and buy gasoline, gifts and groceries.
Jennifer Ferrier had been hired to transport Fells to and from appointments and to help with shopping and other errands, police said.
Fells' bank notified her on Jan. 6 that she had insufficient funds in her account to cover the transactions, police said. As a result, police investigated the matter and determined Jennifer Ferrier was responsible.
Police said Fells' card was used at Sheetz in Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven,Wal-Mart Supercenter in Saint Clair, Giant grocery stores and Exxon gasoline stations, as well as numerous automatic teller machines along Route 61.
Reiley set Jennifer Ferrier's bail at $15,000 unsecured and she is free pending further court action.Defendant: Jennifer L. Ferrier
Age: 39
Residence: Cressona
Charges: Theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud