CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County District Attorney, William A. Shaw, Jr., announced Clearfield County’s Fugitive of the Week for the week of March 21, 2011. Shaw identified the Fugitive as Wayne Clifton, age 53, of E. Walnut Street, Clearfield.
On March 15, 2011, Trooper Terry Jordan of the Pennsylvania State Police, Clearfield Barracks, filed a criminal complaint charging Clifton with: 1) theft by unlawful taking or disposition, F3, 8 counts; 2) theft by deception, F3, 8 dounts; 3) theft by unlawful taking or disposition, M1, 73 counts; 4) theft by deception, M1, 73 counts; 5) theft by unlawful taking or disposition, M2, 55 counts; 6) theft by deception, M2, 55 counts; 7) theft by unlawful taking or disposition, M3, 7 counts; and 8) theft by deception, M3, 7 counts.
An affidavit of probable cause filed by Jordan states that in January 2011, the Pennsylvania State Police received a report from the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging regarding their concern that an elderly woman was the victim of an ongoing theft. Jordan interviewed the victim and found that Clifton had obtained a Power of Attorney for the victim, and that Clifton was to be responsible for paying all of the victim’s bills. In August 2010, the victim revoked Clifton’s Power of Attorney because Clifton was using the victim’s money and assets to pay Clifton’s personal bills and purchase items for Clifton’s personal gain. In addition to purchasing a used vehicle for $23,662.00, Clifton made purchases for approximately $27,173.00 that were not authorized by the victim.
Upon filing the charges, Jordan also obtained a warrant for Clifton’s arrest, and Clifton has yet to be apprehended.
Clifton is described as follows:
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5 feet, 11 inches
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Gray
Shaw credited the hard work of the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging for identifying this issue and reporting it to law enforcement for further investigation. Shaw stated that it is comforting to know that the Area Agency on Aging is monitoring these types of situations. Shaw stated that senior citizens work their entire life to save money for their retirement and theft from senior citizens is completely unacceptable.
Anyone with knowledge of Clifton’s location is asked to call Clearfield County Crimestoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crimestoppers are confidential. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site and selecting “Report A Crime”.