Document text
M/CLOUDY Temp: 41 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend December 4, 2002 Ex-caregiver faces multiple theft charges By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A former Jackson County employee faces 17 separate criminal charges for allegedly stealing money from the disabled clients of a county-run care center. Kimberly Anne Blackwolf, 44, of the 100 block of Central Avenue, Ashland, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court to 14 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and three counts of first-degree theft. She was booked in jail and released. A seven-year employee of the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, Blackwolf managed checking accounts through Klamath First Federal Credit Union for residents of the Ashland View Manor. Many of the manor’s residents suffer from brain injuries and cannot care for themselves. "Everyone I talked to said she was a very caring person as far as caring for these clients physically," said Jackson County sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Fox. Over a two-year period, Blackwolf allegedly stole approximately $8,700 from 14 of the Manor’s residents, who range in age from 30 to 80. Fox would not discuss exactly how police allege the money was transferred to Blackwolf, saying only that she had the power to sign residents’ personal checks. In one instance, a check was written to a local funeral home for a burial plot, said Hank Collins, health and human services director. The check was cashed, but the plot was never purchased, Collins said. Blackwolf resigned from her position about a year before problems were discovered, Fox said. New employees transferring records noticed alleged discrepancies in Blackwolf’s bookkeeping, he added. Accounting controls were supposed to be in place, Collins said. The checks required another signature in addition to Blackwolf’s, and a different employee was balancing the accounts, but apparently no one noticed funds were missing, he said. The county already paid back the victims, compensating Social Security for several who had died, Collins said. The county will seek restitution from Blackwolf, who was earning around $50,000 a year when she resigned, he added. "When these things happen, sometimes people have financial problems," Collins said, adding that he did not know any details of Blackwolf’s financial situation. More extensive auditing of county agencies has been ordered to prevent such thefts in the future, Collins said. Criminal background checks are required for all prospective county employees, he said. The county’s internal auditors looked into the case and turned the investigation over to Fox in March. The District Attorney’s Office filed charges last month. "There was some haggling back and forth about whether the county would accept a settlement, and the commissioners stood firm and said ‘no way,’ " Collins said. "We felt it was important to pursue this to the extent that we could so she doesn’t do this to somebody else." Blackwolf did not return phone calls requesting comment. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S