Woman accused of stealing $28,000 from family

A woman accused of stealing more than $28,000 from her elderly mother and stepfather appeared in court for arraignment Wednesday.

Dana Lynn Cole, 52, pleaded not guilty in Clark County Superior Court to first-degree identity theft, first-degree theft from a vulnerable adult and six counts of forgery. Judge Daniel Stahnke set bail at $2,500, which Cole posted. A trial was scheduled for July 29.

Cole moved in with her mother, Anna Cook, 79, and stepfather, Roy Cook, 84, in April 2017 at their Vancouver residence, according to an affidavit of probable cause. She made a nonfinancial agreement to be the primary caregiver for her mother, the affidavit said.

In February 2018, Roy Cook’s daughter and son, Bryan Cook and Denise Camacho, became concerned that Cole was financially exploiting the elderly couple’s financial accounts, according to the affidavit. The couple said Cole did not have permission to access their joint Columbia Credit Union account, the affidavit said.

From September 2017 to February 2018, Cole forged her mother’s name on six checks written to herself for a total of $5,500, according to the affidavit. When compared with previous checks, the signatures didn’t match, the affidavit said.

Between May 2017 and February 2018, withdrawals outside of Roy Cook’s normal banking activities totaled more than $20,000, the affidavit said. ATM surveillance photos on Jan. 6, 2018, reveal Cole making $360 in withdrawals associated with the account, the affidavit said.

On Sept. 6, 2017, $2,000 was transferred from the Cooks’s account to Cole’s, according to the affidavit.

A warrant was issued on May 3, and a Clark County Sheriff’s deputy arrested Cole just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to court records.