Elder Abuse arrest – Media sent out Oct. 21/12
Belleville police are warning the public to be diligent in monitoring financial accounts of elderly or vulnerable family members who are in assisted living arrangements following the heels of a fraud-related arrest of a personal support worker.
Earlier this month police investigated two separate complaints involving a 31-year-old Belleville woman, who was employed as a PSW through a local community service agency.
Both victims were elderly and relied on in-home care to sustain independent living within the community. The investigation involved a number of stolen cheques that were cashed at local banks totaling upwards of $6,000.
Shauna-Lee Etcher, 31, of Belleville is charged with seven counts each of Utter Forged Document; Fraud under $5,000; two counts of Breach of Trust; and one count each of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Being Unlawfully in a Dwelling.
February 7th, 2013 – Additional Fraud/Utter Forged Document charges
Belleville, Ontario - A further investigation into the incidents by members of the Criminal Investigations Division uncovered another victim – an 87-year-old woman living in Belleville who was defrauded of $4,500 through the same cheque-cashing scenario in the summer of 2012.
The victim also relied on in-home care through a local community service agency to sustain independent living within the community at the time of the thefts. At the time, the suspect was working inside the victim's home as a personal support worker.
As well, investigators have laid additional counts of Fraud pertaining to e-mail money transfers the suspect orchestrated involving one of the initial elderly victims.
As a result, Shauna–Lee Etcher, 31 years of Belleville is charged with:
- six counts of Fraud Under $5,000
- two counts of Utter Forged Document.
She was released from custody for a court appearance in March 2013.
If anyone has information relating to the incident, please contact Det.-Const. Jeremy Ashley at 613-966-0882 ext. 2315 or Crime Stoppers at 613-969-8477.
