Stevens woman stole over $800,000 from grandfather: police

by NATHAN WILLISON

West Earl Township police have charged a Stevens woman with deceiving her grandfather out of $810,750 in 2022 after being given access to his finances. 

Sarah F. Shanely, 39, is charged with felony counts of financial exploitation of an older adult and theft by deception after police say she became controlling of her grandfather’s estate planning. 

According to charging documents, after the death of her grandmother, Shanely was one of three people given power of attorney for her grandfather. Her grandfather was in his 80s and was under emotional distress from the death of his wife and was suffering from an injury after a fall.

Police say it was determined during an estate planning meeting that $15,000 to $18,000 would be gifted to family members to shield it from taxation. 

After learning from an attorney there was no limit on the amount that could be gifted, police say Shanely told her grandfather he should gift $200,000 to each of his three grandchildren. However, he told her he did not want to distribute that much as he also wanted to leave money to his two sons. 

According to an affidavit, in July 2022 Shanely wrote four checks from her grandfather’s bank  for $200,000 each. That same month, Shanely issued a payment of $10,750 from her grandfather's bank account to a private school her son attends. Police say the grandfather did not authorize the transaction. 

Police say the grandfather, along with the two other people serving as powers of attorney, repeatedly asked for the money to be returned due to confusion over what he was signing, but Shanely refused to return the money. 

Investigators concluded Shanely did not act in her grandfather’s best financial interest. An attorney representing Shanely did not return a request for comment Saturday. 

Shanely was released on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2025. 

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Stevens woman stole over $800,000 from grandfather: police

In-home healthcare worker sentenced to prison for theft

Britney Hostrander

LOCK HAVEN — A Williamsport woman was sentenced for access device fraud after an investigation by the Clinton County District Attorney’s office.

District Attorney Dave Strouse announced this week that Britney Hostrander, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday morning to a maximum term of 84 months of supervision, with the first 9 months in Clinton County Correctional Facility, and an additional 6 months on house arrest.

According to a press release via Crimewatch, Hostrander was sentenced by Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury on one count of Access Device Fraud, a third degree felony; two counts of identity theft, third degree felonies; and two counts of financial exploitation of an older adult, a first degree misdemeanor.

Hostrander was charged by Pine Creek Sgt. Denny Gill after a 76-year-old McElhatten woman and her 80-year-old husband discovered a series of unusual purchases on their credit cards, the release said.

Sgt. Gill was able to track the card to Hostrander, who used the credit cards to purchase items for her vehicle and to pay off her costs and fines in a separate criminal case in Mifflin County, according to the release.

Prior to sentencing, Hostrander provided a written apology letter to the victims and paid full restitution.

Despite her efforts, and her plea for a probation sentence, Judge Salisbury imposed a period of incarceration and a lengthy period of supervision, the release said.

As a special condition, Hostrander is prohibited from any form of employment which involves providing services to older individuals, the release said.

Pre-sentence investigation revealed that Hostrander had obtained new employment with another in-home care company while her criminal charges were pending, the release said.

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In-home healthcare worker sentenced to prison for theft

Man accused of writing more than $45,000 in fraudulent checks

by Melissa Farenish

Dalmatia, Pa. — A Dalmatia man was charged for writing 44 fraudulent checks for more than $45,000 and taking advantage of his former landlord. 

Police filed felony forgery charges against Andrew John Souder, 35, after the accuser told them on Dec. 1 that she had discovered a number of fraudulent checks were written and debited out of her bank account. The checks were written from Jan. 2 to Nov. 30, 2023, according to Trooper Michael Adams of state police at Stonington.

The accuser, a 74-year-old woman, had rented a home in Lower Augusta Township to Souder from 2018 to 2022 when she moved out of the country. By October 2022, the accuser sold the home to Souder. She discovered the fraudulent transactions when she received an overdraft notice from her bank on Nov. 22. The accuser told police she had never given Souder her checks nor did she give him authorization to conduct financial transactions on her behalf, Adams wrote in the affidavit. 

The checks had the accuser's signature, which were allegedly forged by Souder. Police found during the investigation that Souder came to the Sunbury branch of M&T Bank at least four times to physically cash the checks. Video surveillance showed Souder was there on April 7 and cashed a $1,600 forged check. Souder also cashed several other checks at the bank branch on Oct. 17, Oct. 30, and Nov. 2, according to Adams. The rest of the checks were deposited via mobile deposit using Souder's bank app. Check amounts ranged from $2,500 to $100. 

In addition to the felony forgery charge, police also filed felony counts of bad checks, theft by unlawful taking, and financial exploitation of an older adult. Charges were filed at the Sunbury office of District Judge Rachel Wiest-Benner, who set bail at $10,000 at 10% monetary, which Souder posted. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 30 at Wiest-Benner's office. 

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Man accused of writing more than $45,000 in fraudulent checks