An in-home caregiver, Lauralye Irene Lunday, charged with defrauding her elderly female client by running up almost $7,000 in unauthorized credit card charges appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court/Criminal Division Monday.
Her attorney entered a not guilty plea to the charges against his client including theft of property, exploiting an endangered or impaired person and computer fraud.
She is being represented by Ben Gibson.
In late December last year, the Baxter County Sheriff’s office received a report from the woman’s family. In the report it was claimed that the 55-year-old Lunday had been given access to the victim’s credit card to make online purchases for the client and had allegedly run up almost $7,000 in unauthorized charges on the account.
The charges had been run through Lunday’s personal Walmart account.
According to the probable cause affidavit, there were charges for multiple orders of food, clothing and “party supplies” that Lunday picked up at the store.
In addition, some of the online orders were delivered to Lunday’s residence in Yellville.
The company that employed Lunday terminated her and investigators obtained a warrant for her arrest.
It was also noted that the female victim needed in-home care services because she was suffering from dementia.
Lunday is free on $15,000 bond.
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