La Center woman suspected in thefts appears in court

A La Center woman accused of stealing more than $30,000 from her 87-year-old grandmother made a first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Monday, according to court records.

Alina M. Ferguson, 36, appeared to face three counts of first-degree theft and five counts of second-degree theft, court documents show.

Ferguson stole about $27,543.54 between January 2014 and December 2014, and about $6,081.39 between January 2015 and December 2015, from her grandmother, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The money was used to pay for her personal trips, college, bills, store purchases and a chiropractor, court documents said.

Ferguson told police she cares for her grandmother and manages her finances. She said she uses her grandmother’s money to pay for the woman’s bills and, in return, her grandmother pays her bills, the affidavit said.

The victim told police she manages her own finances and that she doesn’t give money to Ferguson. She said she also didn’t give Ferguson permission to use her money, court records said.

On Monday, Judge Robert Lewis appointed Therese Lavallee to represent Ferguson and set her bail at $75,000, according to court documents.

Ferguson is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 11.