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Lincoln County caregiver accused of cashing patient’s checks faces 16 felonies
Authorities say Melony Nicole Shinn took checks from a patient’s checkbook while working as a home health caregiver, forged the patient’s signature and deposited the checks into her own account. She was arrested and held on a $70,000 secured bond.
A 35-year-old Lincolnton woman faces 16 felony charges after Lincoln County investigators accused her of taking a patient’s checks and depositing them into her own bank account.
Melony Nicole Shinn was charged Monday, Oct. 19, after an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, the sheriff’s office said. The allegations include exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult and forgery.
Investigators say Shinn took checks from a patient’s checkbook on multiple occasions while caring for the person at home. She allegedly made the checks payable to herself, forged the patient’s signature and deposited them into her personal account.
Shinn was taken into custody and is being held at the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center on a $70,000 secured bond. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Estrada at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.