A Peoples Bank employee is facing 13 years in prison after she was charged Friday with withdrawing $58,000 from an elderly relative's account without permission, according to police.
Melinda S. Norris, 47, of 671 Baker Ridge Road, Macksburg, has pleaded not guilty and is expected back in Marietta Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 25.
Norris remains free after posting a $50,000 bond through a bondsman. A condition of the bond includes that she have no contact with the alleged victim in the case, Frances Kapraum, 79.
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said Kapraum is related to Norris, but he did not know the exact connection.
"She had previously allowed (Norris) to withdraw money from her account as a loan," Mincks said.
Court records indicate Kapraum loaned Norris money twice by allowing her to withdraw funds from her account. She said she was aware of those withdrawals and the money was paid back promptly.
But Kapraum told police she did not give permission for a June 6 withdrawal of $50,000 and June 30 withdrawal of $8,000.
The affidavit indicates Norris went to Kapraum's home in early July and confessed she had done something wrong at the bank.
"(Norris) had told her that (she) had some medical problems and needed to pay money up front," according to court records. "The victim said (Norris) did not tell her how much she had taken at the time. (She) did say she would pay the money back... by the end of the month."
But Kapraum contends the money was never repaid.
Norris worked at the Lower Salem branch, court records indicate. Peoples Bank's security department was contacted for this story but the investigating officer did not return a message seeking comment.
According to court documents signed by sheriff's Lt. Mark Johnson, Norris admitted to withdrawing $50,000, but first denied taking the additional $8,000.
"She said that she had permission to take the money as (Kapraum) had earlier told her to take whatever she needed," Johnson wrote in his report. "(Norris) did admit that she did not tell the victim before taking the money."
Norris was charged with second-degree felony theft for the June 6 theft and third-degree felony theft for the June 30 incident.
