Pottstown caregiver convicted of stealing from dying woman

NORRISTOWN >> A Pottstown woman potentially faces jail time after she was convicted of charges she stole jewelry valued at about $17,000 from a terminally ill Lower Salford woman for whom she once provided care.

Kelly Ann Snyder-Campbell, 45, whose most recent address was in the 300 block of Highland Avenue, was convicted in Montgomery County Court on Wednesday of felony charges of theft by unlawful taking, identity theft and forgery in connection with incidents that occurred in 2006 while she was employed by a Lower Salford woman and her husband to assist with housecleaning and to help care for the wife who was suffering from cancer.

Judge Garrett D. Page issued the verdict during a non-jury trial at which Snyder-Campbell didn’t contest the prosecution’s evidence outlined in the criminal complaint. There was no testimony during the trial. Snyder-Campbell did not react to the judge’s verdict.

The judge deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about the Pottstown woman. Snyder-Campbell will remain free on $99,000 cash bail while awaiting sentencing.

“I’m going to leave bail the same. I’m going to give you a leash,” Page told Snyder- Campbell,

warning her that if she violates conditions of bail while free he will lock her up immediately.

“Your honor, I’m not going anywhere,” SnyderCampbell told the judge, promising to show up for her sentencing hearing.

Testimony at a previous hearing revealed that Snyder-Campbell has a 1996 conviction for insurance fraud in Dauphin County and had absconded at one time to Florida and Minnesota while that case was pending.

Snyder-Campbell faces a possible maximum sentence of 10½ to 21 years in prison on the latest charges.

With the charges, prosecutors alleged SnyderCampbell, formerly of Huckleberry Drive, Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh

County, stole the cancer-stricken woman’s jewelry, valued at more than $17,000, and later used the dead woman’s identity to lease a townhome in Lehigh County.

The total amount of the alleged theft was $18,770, including $17,270 in stolen jewelry and $1,500 that the victim’s husband lent to Snyder-Campbell and that was never repaid.

Assistant District AttorneyMeghan Carney vowed to seek state prison time.

“She stole not only from a widower, who was in his most vulnerable spot, but also took on the identity of a woman that she cared for and who she knew passed away. It was a huge breach of trust. She took advantage of someone who was so vulnerable, in a vulnerable state in their

life, and she took complete advantage of that to reap a benefit for herself,” Carney said.

Defense lawyerMartin P. Mullaney indicated he’ll argue for leniency on behalf of Snyder-Campbell and against a state prison term.

“My client feels horrible about what happened in this case. She was put in a position where she acted inappropriately and if she could turn back time and put the pieces back together she would,” Mullaney said. “She’s incredibly remorseful. She’s just looking for a sentence that would provide her with the ability to serve a county sentence and be out on work release so she can begin to pay the restitution that she owes to the (victim’s) family.”

Snyder-Campbell told the judge she is self-employed and operates a mobile salon company.

Previously, while free on bail, Snyder-Campbell was charged by Pottstown police with furnishing alcohol

to minors during an alleged underage drinking party at her borough home on May 10.

During a previous hearing, Snyder-Campbell denied furnishing alcohol to minors and implied she didn’t know there was an underage party at her home. According to testimony, borough police responded to the home for a report of a “loud party” and were met by SnyderCampbell, who they alleged had glassy eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol on her breath. Snyder-Campbell told the judge her eyes may have been glassy because she was taking allergy medication.

According to Carney and Mullaney, Snyder-Campbell has since pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct, a summary offense that is punishable by a fine, based on her interaction with police at the time of the incident. The furnishing alcohol to minors charge was

dismissed against SnyderCampbell in district court.

In the theft case, authorities alleged SnyderCampbell was hired in May 2006 to help care for the ill woman and worked 35 hours a week at the Brandon Lane residence before the woman died in July 2006, according to court papers. The woman’s husband kept Snyder-Campbell on as his housekeeper after his wife passed away, police said.

But an inves t igation began in September 2006, when the dead woman’s husband notified Lower Salford police that he had learned Snyder-Campbell had used his dead wife’s pertinent information, including her Social Security number, to lease a townhouse in Lehigh County. The husband learned about the identity theft when the owner of the Lehigh property called looking for his wife, who had died two months prior, police said.

The husband immediately ended Snyder-Campbell’s employ. Later, as he was going through his wife’s belongings he discovered that more than $10,000 worth of his wife’s jewelry was missing, according to the criminal complaint filed by Lower Salford Police Officer Kimberly Kratz.

“He also noted that a raccoon fur coat and some antique ornaments were missing,” Kratz wrote in the arrest affidavit, adding the deceased woman’s wallet containing credit cards and her driver’s license was missing.

Charges weren’t filed against Snyder-Campbell until 2014 because authorities had a difficult time finding her. Authorities eventually tracked her to Minnesota, officials said.