A 39-year-old Cressona woman charged with stealing more than $20,000 from an elderly resident at Luther Ridge Nursing Home was sentenced Wednesday to a total of two years probation, 25 hours of community service and to pay back the money she stole.
Jennifer L. Ferrier, 80 Pottsville St., pleaded guilty on June 25 to one felony count each of theft, receiving stolen property and access device issued to another person.
"I'm sorry," a tearful Ferrier said Wednesday. "I'm horrified by what I did to her and breaking her trust."
Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin sentenced Ferrier to serve 12 months probation for the theft charge and another 12 months, to be served consecutively, for use of the access device. Ferrier was also ordered to pay the bank the money she stole, costs and supervision fees.
"I find that in the letter and testament that there is virtually no risk of a re-event," Dolbin said.
State police Trooper Bernard Walasavage of the Schuylkill Haven station arrested Ferrier on charges stemming from incidents that occurred between Oct. 31, 2012, and Jan. 7 of this year. Walasavage said that while Ferrier was employed by Lori's Angels, she took a Wells Fargo Visa debit card belonging to Lois Fells and used it to make unauthorized transactions in the amount of $21,117.62 at various locations, including Sheetz, Wal-Mart, Giant Market and various ATMs.
Fells was unable to attend the sentencing Wednesday, but her daughter, Sandra McMurtrie, Pottsville, was there on her behalf.
"I think the thing that hurt my mom the most was how she felt about Jennifer," McMurtrie said.
Ferrier had written an extensive letter of apology to Fells.
"She's a very sweet, honest woman and there's no excuse for what I did," Ferrier said. "I hope she will be able to go past this."
She said she intends to pay back the bank, which lent Fells the money that was stolen, as soon as possible and asked for probation so she can continue to work and "prove that I can pay everyone back and prove to my children and Lois's family that this was out of character and I'm sorry."
There were also three witnesses stating that the incident was completely out of character for Ferrier and were confident it would not happen again.
Jeffrey L. Jones Sr., owner of Hidden Valley Golf Course in Pine Grove and Patmar Co., said Ferrier has been employed at both places for several months and has been trusted with billing, checkouts and access to various buildings. He said he has known Ferrier and her family for a long time.
"We've had nothing but good reports," Jones said. "We've been very happy with Jennifer."
Lori Jane Kouri, Schuylkill Haven, said she has known Ferrier personally and professionally for about 22 years. In 2011, Ferrier was a home health aide for Kouri's father through Lori's Angels.
"She made sure my father was well-taken care of when I was not there," she said.
She said she had never stolen money from her father and he trusted her.
Anthony H. Doooley, Orwigsburg, said he has known Ferrier since she was born.
"It was completely out of character for her," he said. "She's an absolutely wonderful and dedicated mother."
He said he was sure that Ferrier will once again be a productive member of society.