CLEARFIELD-A Drifting woman accused of stealing merchandise worth over $40,000 was sentenced Tuesday in Clearfield County Court.
Tanisha Rae Gower, 19, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft by unlawful taking. She was sentenced to six months to one year in jail and two years consecutive probation. She was fined $350 plus costs and must pay restitution of $41,695.
The charges stem from incidents that occurred inBoggsTownshipbetween August 17 andSeptember 4, 2010.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police began investigating a theft of jewelry from a West Decatur resident in September 2010. The victim said someone removed her diamond ring, two tennis bracelets and two sets of diamond earrings valued at $17,000. There was no sign of forced entry into her home. Later the victim realized additional pieces of jewelry, money and coins were also missing.
In October 2010 a bracelet and earrings were recovered from a woman who said she had gotten them from Gower in exchange for a vehicle. Another tennis bracelet was sold to a jeweler by a different woman who said Gower asked her to trade it for money.
Additional investigation revealed that Gower was helping another woman who cleaned the victim’s home. In September the victim confronted Gower and was told Gower would pay her the money for the items or buy them back. The victim advised Gower that if she could get certain pieces of sentimental value returned she would not have her arrested.
When Gower was interviewed by police, she denied taking jewelry but admitted to taking money.