Felony charges have been lodged against Michele Elaine Lash, 58, of 531 E. Main St., Middleburg, who is accused of stealing an estimated $3,500 from a special needs woman she was supposed to help and support, according to an affidavit filed by Lycoming Regional Detective Jordan Mahosky.

The victim and Lash lived together “for many years,” and during that time Lash was the woman’s payee, helping her set up an account at Northumberland National Bank where the woman’s Social Security payments were received through direct deposit, Mahosky said.

It is alleged that while the woman lived in a group home in Old Lycoming Township or another assisted-living facility between late 2023 and much of last year, Lash “exploited the victim’s finances for her own financial gain” by making illegal withdrawals from the account in order to pay for several things; including her membership to a fitness club, her church offering, home improvements to her house, her electric bills and meals at several fast-food restaurants, Mahosky said.

While at a casino in Florida in April 2024, Lash withdrew money from the woman’s account, the investigator added. Mahosky alleged that Lash went so far as to set up a credit card account in the victim’s name in January 2024 in which “thousands of dollars” were used to finance a cruise.

An estimated $435 of the victim’s money was used to pay for part of the cruise’s expenses, it was alleged by Mahosky. With less than $2 left in the victim’s bank account, Lash closed it out last November, the detective said.

Lash has been arraigned before Solomon on charges of financial exploitation of a care-dependent person, forgery, access device fraud, identity theft and theft by unlawful taking. She is free on $20,000 bail.