A 24-year-old Silverdale woman was charged with second-degree identity theft in Kitsap County District Court after she allegedly used a debit card belonging to a 93-year-old Bainbridge Island man for purchases at McDonald’s, Walmart and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Jessica Emmilene Criswell faces one felony count of identity theft. She was arraigned July 15 in Port Orchard.
Police allege that Criswell was the former caretaker for the Bainbridge man, and had been hired by the man’s nephew in 2013.
The nephew told authorities Criswell was his uncle’s daily caretaker, and said he had opened an account using his name, but his uncle’s money, at Columbia Bank and had given Criswell a VISA debit card and the access number so she could use the card to assist in paying for his uncle’s care.
The nephew also told police that Criswell had told him she was leaving her job in October 2014, after a year working as his uncle’s caregiver. The nephew said he had asked Criswell to leave the debit card and his uncle’s house keys at his uncle’s home on her last day of work, but said that didn’t happen.
He later checked the account and found charges had been made for roughly two weeks after Criswell quit her job. He also said he tried to contact Criswell via email, phone and text messages, but never got any return calls or messages.
Police alleged they found a dozen incidents where the debit card had been used after Criswell’s last day on the job. A total of $194.83 in purchases had been made in Silverdale, Port Townsend, Poulsbo and Port Hadlock, at places including McDonald’s, QFC, Walmart and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Police said Criswell initially denied using the card, and told police she tore up the card or cut it up and threw it away.
She later allegedly admitted to using the card for personal use because she was having financial troubles, and said, “I though it would be OK if I got some groceries with it.”
She also said she had probably purchased gas and a headlight or oil for her car.
Criswell was arrested July 14 and booked into Kitsap County Jail on three counts of identity theft.
