Woman accused of illegal bank withdrawals
MUNCY – A Wolf Township woman is accused of illegally withdrawing nearly $13,000 from the account of another woman while serving as the victim’s power of attorney, state police allege.
Deborah Lynne Hafner, 46, of 528 Woodlen Mill Road, is accused of making the illegal withdrawals from Nancy Smith’s account from March to October, 2010, Trooper Angela Bieber alleged in an affidavit.
At the time, Smith was living in Muncy Creek Township and “in and out of the hospital” with medical problems, Bieber said.
As Smith’s power of attorney, Hafner “had complete access to Smith’s checkbook and an ATM card,” Bieber said.
Hafner denied the allegations, telling Bieber the money was used to purchase “personal care items” for Smith.
Hafner faces felony charges of theft, theft by failure to make required disposition and access device fraud.
Hafner’s boyfriend, Rodney Lee Poust, 32, of the same address, also was arrested on charges of access device fraud and theft, Bieber said.
Video surveillance from an area bank shows Poust using Smith’s ATM card to withdraw $500 from her account, Bieber said. “Smith did not authorize Poust to conduct this transaction and she did not benefit from it,” Bieber said.
Hafner and Poust were arraigned before District Judge Jon E. Kemp and released on $1,500 bail each.