HOT SPRINGS - A local woman who had been working as a caregiver to a Hot Springs couple was arrested Christmas Day after police said she misused the couple’s debit card for her own personal use, including gambling and drinking expenses.
Michelle McManus, 48, who lists an address of 5703 Central Ave., Apt. B, was taken into custody shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of Lacy Street on a felony warrant for fraudulent use of a credit card more than$5,000, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
McManus was later released on $3,500 bond and is set to appear Jan. 7 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, on July 16, the male victim, with the assistance of a branch manager at Summit Bank, filed a complaint with Hot Springs police after numerous discrepancies had been discovered on his bank account.
He stated he had let Mc-Manus use his debit card after she was hired to take care of him and his bedridden wife,and she had allegedly run up $5,781 in charges that were not related to their care.
The affidavit notes there were a total of eight transactions on the card at a bar, Alibi’s Private Club, 1218 Airport Road, between June 13 and July 10, totaling $1,166.
There were a total of nine transactions at Oaklawn Park, 2705 Central Ave., between Jun 29 and July 11 totaling $1,947.
There were four transactions to Oaklawn Dining between June 30 and July 8 totaling $368. There were also numerous ATM withdrawals on the card totaling $2,300.
On Aug. 22, McManus voluntarily came to the Police Department to be interviewed and told detectives she started working as a caregiver for the couple part time in February and then began working full time in March.
She noted she was paid $10 an hour for her work and that she was given the couple’s debit card to use to pay for their care and to pay their bills.
Police said she told them she spent about $5,000 on the card on herself for “gambling and drinking.”
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 12/30/2013