The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Woman accused of cashing dead mom’s checks


A Letcher County Grand Jury has issued 54 indictments against a Kingscreek woman for allegedly cashing worker’s compensation checks belonging to her dead mother.

The indictments returned last week charge Pendleton Fay “Penny” Blair, 55, of 226 Carrion Branch, with multiple counts, each related to receiving and cashing the checks. The charges start in 2014 and go into 2016.

According to the indictments, Blair repeatedly cashed biweekly checks of $168.72 that were issued by the state to her mother, Inez Day, after her mother had died. Inez Day died July 24, 2013, at Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital, and was buried four days later.

Each of the 54 indictments charges Blair with one count each of seconddegree possession of a forged instrument, a Class D felony, and theft by deception under $500, a Class A misdemeanor, for every check cashed during a particular month. In all, she faces more than 200 counts.

Bella Wells of the state Department of the Inspector

General testified before the grand jury in the cases.

Blair is one of several people charged last week by the grand jury. Others indicted by the grand jury were:

• Timothy S. Profitt, 41, of 212 Sergent Loop, Mayking, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, (meth); operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (refused test); first offense; failure to produce insurance card; failure to maintain required insurance (2nd or greater offense); improper display of registration plates; no registration receipt; reckless driving; obstructed vision and or windshield; and use/ possession of drug paraphernalia. Profitt was arrested October 21, 2018. Kentucky State Police Trooper Wade Adams testified in the case.

• Kathleen M. Hall, 45, of 1258 Vest Rd., Vest, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, ( meth); misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance; three counts of buying/possessing drug paraphernalia; possession of marijuana; shoplifting under $500; and being a second-degree persistent felony offender. The charges stem from an arrest for stealing from Food City in Whitesburg on November 7, 2018. Whitesburg Police Officer Jordan Clemons testified in the case.

Jason Craig Gibbs, 39, of 672 Burton Hill, Blackey, is charged with third-degree burglary and being a firstdegree persistent felony offender. Gibbs is accused of unlawfully entering or remaining in the home of Vanessa Fleming on November 23, 2018. Letcher County Commonwealth’s Detective Kenny Terry testified in the case.

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