Highlands Today
Cleaning Lady Charged With Burglarizing Client
COPS: TOOK CASH, WATCH AND CREDIT CARD
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Published: July 23, 2008
Felicia Carney
SEBRING - A Sebring woman who sheriff's investigators say worked as a cleaning lady remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $22,500 bond Wednesday after a 71-year-old client reported someone took his cash, a watch and racked up charges on a stolen credit card.
Felicia Renee Carney, 38, also known as Felicia Silver, of 1228 Melody Lane, was booked Monday on charges of burglary of a unoccupied dwelling, petty theft second offense, grand theft $300 or more but less than $10,000 while victim was 65 years of age or older, fraud – illegal use of credit cards to obtain goods or money $100 or more, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
According to a sheriff's arrest report, deputies were called to the victim's Sebring home on June 20, where he reported a credit card stolen along with $400 in cash and a Bulova watch valued at $1,500.
The victim reportedly told investigators he was notified by his bank that his card had been used several times in Sebring and Lake Placid and that his account was overdrawn. He told the bank he never made any of the transactions and notified authorities.
During the investigation, the victim reportedly received a call from Carney, who wanted to apologize to him about the alleged crimes. Investigators reportedly told the victim to arrange a meeting.
According to the arrest report by sheriff's Det. Roger St. Laurent, Carney met with the victim inside of his vehicle, where the report stated she confessed to him.
Investigators have obtained some surveillance footage showing Carney making withdrawals using the victim's credit card at SunTrust Bank and Publix supermarket locations, the report stated.
The total value of the grand theft was $1,949, the report stated, and petty theft amounts on the unauthorized credit card use added up to $720.
Carney has a history of arrests in Highlands and Polk counties.
The Highlands County charges dating back to July 2004, include domestic violence battery, violation of probation for domestic violence battery, obtaining property by worthless check, giving a false name to a law enforcement officer, fraudulent use of a credit card and failure to appear, violation of probation for fraudulent use of a credit card, cocaine possession, along with several Polk County warrant arrests and driving with no driver's license or vehicle registration.
Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle had some advice Wednesday for anyone wanting to hire domestic help.
"Request references, and check them," he said. "If they don't give you any, then I'd be leery of them. Do a background check at the sheriff's office. Go online to the clerk of courts Web site and see if they've participated in any litigation. Contact your chamber of commerce and the Better Business Bureau."
A $2 background check shows if a person has a criminal record and the charges, according to sheriff's central records. An arrest history does not imply the person was convicted of a crime, only that they were arrested.
For a copy of the arrest record or arrest report, there is an additional .15 cent per page charge. For certified copies, there is an additional $1 overall fee.
The sheriff's Web site can be accessed at www.highlandssheriff.org .
For information on convictions, go to the clerk of courts for each county.
The Highlands County Clerk of Courts has its own fee schedule, but its Web site can be accessed at www.hcclerk.org, according to Bob Germaine, senior director of court services for Highlands County.
"They can go in, click on the left to do a records search," Germaine said Wednesday.
He said the Web site shows a variety of court records, even tenants who have been evicted a few times and traffic cases, among other records.
"If you're letting them in your house by themselves, then you better be careful," he said.
But not everyone has a computer.
"If they come here, they can just ask for us, and we have a public computer," Germaine said. "Someone can walk them through how to use (the Web site) and explain what they're looking at. You don't want to not hire someone because they have a traffic ticket."
Also, he suggested to get as much background information on the person, including first, middle and last name, age or date of birth and address.
A person with a very common name will want to provide as much information to a potential employer as possible to avoid being confused with another individual.
Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com
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