OC woman facing numerous theft charges

An Oil City woman is facing multiple charges after she allegedly stole more than $1,300 from her stepson.

A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said a man alerted Oil City police on Nov. 22 that his bank card had been stolen by his stepmother – Kara Smith, 29.

The man told Oil City police officer Regina Deloe that Supplemental Security Income checks were signed over to him and his two younger sisters when their father went to jail, the complaint said.

The checks were to be used to pay the bills and to make sure everyone was taken care of, the complaint said.

Around Nov. 19-20, the victim noticed his card was missing and asked Smith about it, the complaint said. Smith admitted taking the card and withdrawing about $1,300 and refusing to return it to him, the complaint said.

Eventually, Smith agreed to take the card to the Oil City Police Department to return it, but she made a stop at a local store to withdraw $131.75 before handing it over, the complaint said.

Smith then lied to police about items she said she was authorized to purchase with the card and denying the transactions were ever made, the complaint said.

Smith has been charged with a felony count of access device-unauthorized by issuer, two misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking, a misdemeanor count of possession of access device knowing counterfeit, nine misdemeanor counts of identify theft and a misdemeanor count of statement under penalty.

She was arraigned Thursday before Kirtland and released on $2,500 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.