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Last updated on Monday, December 8, 2014
(LINTON) - 23-year-old Brenda J. Payne of Linton was arrested and charged with two counts of forgery, a level 6 felony, and fraud, also a level 6 felony.
The Greene County Sheriff's Office received a complaint that Payne had taken a credit card and blank checks from elderly family members. The informant also claimed that Payne had done this before, in 2013, when she allegedly forged and cashed checks totaling almost $6,000, before being confronted and agreeing to stop.
The person who has power of attorney over the elderly couple, reported the thefts. Police say that between Oct. 16 and Nov. 13, there were more than 100 charges on the couple's credit card, which totaled more than $3,500.
She told police that she also contacted the couple's bank, and that two checks written to Payne had been cashed, in the amounts of $600 and $800.
Payne was questioned on Nov. 26 at the Greene County Sheriff's Office. Payne told police she was unemployed, having difficulty finding work and "doesn't like to be without money or the things money can provide."
Payne admitted to taking the credit card from the elderly woman's purse, using it and putting it back during her next visit. Payne allegedly told police that she lived with a couple in Washington, and that she often purchased groceries, gasoline, liquor and other items, and paid bills for them, using the credit card.
As for the checks, Payne allegedly acknowledged removing several checks at a time from the checkbook and making them out to herself, signing them with the elderly woman's name and then cashing them.
Payne told police that the woman is forgetful and she used the credit card and cash from the checks to "spoil herself" although she knew it was wrong.
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