Couple allegedly steal more than $4K in cash, jewelry from parents - lehighvalleylive.com
A couple stole more than $4,000 in cash and jewelry from their mothers, and one of the thieves said she did it to help her get off drugs, police said.
Charged are Christopher Michael Barnes, 28, of the 1200 block of Plainfield Drive in Pen Argyl, and Sierra Janee Cardwell, 26, of the 700 block of Bushkill Center Road in Bushkill Township.
Cardwell's mother on Aug. 16 went to the Bushkill Township Police Department to report her driver's license missing and several unauthorized transactions made on her bank account. She told police she suspected her daughter stole money from her savings account to feed a heroin addiction.
Investigators on Aug. 17 reviewed bank surveillance footage, which showed both Barnes and Cardwell making various transactions at the drive-through. The couple withdrew $1,300 on July 15; $300 on July 20; $400 on July 22; and $900 on July 25, according to court records.
Police on Aug. 30 interviewed Cardwell at Northampton County Prison and she allegedly said she was angry with her mother and "just took the money." Cardwell told investigators she was trying to afford a prescription medication that relieves addiction to narcotic pain relievers, as well pay for a treatment clinic.
Cardwell allegedly admitted to police she had used heroin in the past and was trying to stop.
During a police interview with both Barnes and Cardwell on Sept. 9, the pair allegedly admitted to stealing money from the savings account of Cardwell's mother. The pair both told investigators Cardwell's mother gave Cardwell permission to remove funds from the bank account and gave her the driver's license.
The couple also initially agreed to take lie detector tests but then did not return phone calls from police to schedule the testing, according to court records.
Barnes is charged with eight counts of theft and four counts of receiving stolen property. Cardwell is charged with four counts of forgery, eight counts of theft and four counts of receiving stolen property.
Both were arraigned last week before District Judge James Narlesky, who set bail at $25,000 for Barnes and 10 percent of $25,000 for Cardwell. In lieu of bail, both were taken to Northampton County Prison, where they remained Sunday.
Additionally, Barnes also is facing theft charges in two other separate cases.
Barnes' mother on Tuesday reported to Slate Belt Regional police several pieces of jewelry, valued at more than $1,400, were missing from her home. The pieces included two antique bracelets, an emerald pendant, a gold chain, an onyx gold ring with a half-carat diamond and a white gold watch.
She told police Barnes admitted to stealing the jewelry and taking it to a pawn shop. Barnes is charged in Tuesday's case with theft and receiving stolen property.
At about 4 p.m. Thursday, Barnes then traveled to The Home Depot in Palmer Township and allegedly attempted to steal $228 worth of items. A loss prevention officer stopped Barnes when he left the store without paying, according to Palmer Township police.
Barnes was arraigned before Narlesky on both the Tuesday and Thursday crimes. The judge set bail at $10,000 in the Slate Belt theft case and $3,000 in the Palmer Township case. Barnes was unable to post bail in those cases.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
