Montgomery indicted for nursing home theft

A Russellville woman who allegedly stole more than $5,000 from a local nursing home where she was employed was indicted by the January grand jury, courthouse officials said.

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said Samantha A. Montgomery, 44, 1012 N. Jackson Ave., Russellville, was indicted for first-degree theft of property.

According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, Montgomery is accused of stealing more than $5,000 from Burns Nursing Home in Russellville where Montgomery was employed.

Hargett said investigators received a call from officials at Burns Nursing Home on June 28 about a possible theft.

When going through records, nursing home officials had noticed some discrepancies in the financial records and discovered that some of the numbers they had were not adding up.

During the course of the investigation, Hargett said officers were able to determine an employee had been receiving checks that were intended to pay for residents’ fees.

Hargett said instead of depositing the checks into the business account, the employee was making some of the checks out to cash and taking the money and depositing it in a personal bank account.

Hargett said Montgomery was implicated as the one who had been cashing the checks and she was questioned and arrested on June 28.

Montgomery was released from custody on a $5,000 bond.

Her case should be scheduled for arraignment in April, according to Rushing.