Farmington Woman Accused Of Nursing Home Theft

FAYETTEVILLE — A Farmington woman is accused of stealing nearly $30,000 from clients of Prairie Grove Health and Rehabilitation where she worked.

Valarie Lea Isaac, 35, of 107 Allen Place, was charged in circuit court Friday with one count of theft of property. The class B felony is punishable by between five and 20 years in prison.

Prairie Grove police began investigating Isaac last month when an audit found the accounts of five patients at the nursing home had been marked for large cash payments but the money was never deposited.

Isaac had been an office manager for the nursing home and was responsible for making bank deposits.

Family members who dealt with Isaac told police she requested they pay for treatment at the facility in cash because it would be “easier,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed Friday.

In some cases, they cashed checks specifically to pay Isaac in cash.

Several people were able to provide receipts apparently signed by Isaac. One family member showed police three receipts totaling more than $11,000, though they were not from Prairie Grove Health and Rehabilitation, and Isaac appeared to have made them only to conceal her theft, according to the affidavit.

In all, Isaac is accused of stealing more than $29,500 between August and January 2012.

Isaac’s bail has been set at $7,500. She had not been booked into the Washington County Detention Center as of Friday night.