A Cooperstown woman is facing several felony charges that accuse her of causing $100,000 in financial loss to an 85-year-old Sugar Creek Station resident who was under her care.
Sugarcreek Borough police said in a criminal complaint that Jessica Babbitt, 44, was working in her capacity as a social worker for UPMC at Sugar Creek Station when she began to “groom” an elderly woman and use her position to commit several crimes against the woman, resulting in the loss of a large amount of money and property to the woman.
Police said they conducted multiple interviews of persons including Babbitt, the 85-year-old woman, Area Agency on Aging representatives, a notary and a UPMC investigator, and also reviewed years of banking records during the investigation.
Babbitt also took over the woman’s bank account and used the money herself, while assuring the woman that “she was taking care of several things for her,” according to the complaint.
At least seven witnesses were willing to testify about false statements and documents made by Babbitt, as well as checks made out to Babbitt for services that were never performed, the complaint said.
Babbitt is currently employed in the same position of trust at a different elderly care facility, the complaint said.
She is facing felony charges of financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, forgery and access device fraud.
She was arraigned Monday, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled Oct. 25 in Venango County Central Court.
