Leebren
Disciple of Prayer
My daughter (Angela) and son-in-law (Brian) are facing felony criminal charges (they are each being charged with Theft by Receiving and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card), which are false allegations toward them. They have an attorney and this matter is pending determination at the present moment if it will proceed to court (or not).
My daughter was employed for over 2 yrs. with a small family owned business (2 brothers, and one of the brother's wife) and she was especially extremely close to the wife at her job, beyond just being her boss, counting her as a close friend. On January 11th of this year (2018) my daughter was fired on the spot when she came in for work, due to this allegation that she "stole" a company gas card and used it for personal use - she wasn't even given a chance to answer/explain/talk/respond...just told to leave the office, and this was the first moment she was made aware of this.
The day before she was fired, her husband (my son-in-law, Brian) had his paperwork binder he uses for his job fall to the floor in his truck, and when he picked up the fallen items he saw a gas card that was faded on the top (as one of the dropped items), and at that moment saw that the card said the business name of the company that Angela worked for. He realized he had been using that card for approximately 5 weeks, not realizing it wasn't his personal card. The very minute he saw the card and realized what had happened, he left his work site and crew and called to request meet with any of the 3 owners of where Angela worked. Shortly, he arrived at the business and met with one of the 3 owners (Todd) and explained to him that Angela had no idea he had called to meet him, and that she had no knowledge about him having this gas card. He told Todd that Angela had obviously brought it home with her and he had picked it up, never knowing to realize any possibility of if not being theirs and not paying any attention to the card itself. This gas card that Brian had in his possession and used was always kept in the glove compartment of an old company vehicle at Angela's office that all 50-60 employees use for company business (and are supposed to use this gas card for this vehicle) and all employees have access to this gas card kept in this vehicle. The only explanation possible for the card being in Brian's possession is that Angela brought it home, unknowingly, as she is always placing things in her pocket, which is probably the best guess as to how this could occur.
None the less, Brian went and confessed what had happened, made profuse sincere apologies and told the owner to figure out what amount of money the gas charges would be and that he will pay in full and settle this matter. The owner agreed, was "all smiles" and gave a handshake on the their discussion and said he would get the amount figured out and get back with Brian soon. It goes without saying that without Brian's admission/confession to what happened and bringing the card back to the owner, no one would have ever known where the card was, or who had it or used it.
In a couple of weeks, Brian was called by the owner he spoke with and he requested to meet with him again. At that meeting, everything changed drastically. He told Brian that they feel the card had been used for his and/or Angela's personal use since January 2017 and claims the charges owed are in the $4,000 - $6,000 range. That part of the accusation is the most preposterous, but Brian discussed with him that if Angela was on the job, could he not check her time sheet against times of purchases, etc. and many more scenarios to question how impossible this would be to have happened. The owner had no interest in hearing any other possible explanations and refused to entertain any other possibilities other than this was done purposely and for a year's time period The points Brian made to the owner were before Brian really had a chance to start reviewing with Angela the random pages of credit card bill print-out that the owner gave him for his "proof/documentation".
The owner told Brian he would give him a couple of weeks to pay him. He was aware that Brian denied any use of the card except for the approximate 5 week period that he knows he used the card (at the same local gas station each time). Brian and Angela went over the credit card statement and among other discrepancies, there were charges for diesel fuel (they own no diesel using vehicles), purchases for gallon amounts larger than their vehicle gas tanks hold, sometimes large purchases twice a day, etc., one charge on a day they were on a family vacation 3 hours away at the time of a local gas purchase, etc., and most charges happening during Angela's work hours in the presence of the owners seeing her in view during work.
Based on disagreeing with the owner as to the amount owed and the time frame, Brian and Angela immediately retained an attorney. A certified letter was sent by their attorney the first of February, along with a cashiers check, to the owners for the amount of the charges for the time frame Brian was in possession of the card. The owners signed for the letter, but did not cash the check, and two days after receiving the attorney's letter went to the police department to press charges.
The detective working this case has not been that responsive to their attorney, but the officer was told by their attorney that if a warrant was going to be issued, to contact him (the attorney) and they (Brian and Angela) will turn themselves in immediately (to avoid being picked up randomly from anywhere at any unknown time or in the presence of their teenage daughter, etc.). There was a warrant signed (as it turns out on March 28, 2018), but it was never entered into the system during all this time. Their attorney and their bail bondsman called the jail almost every day to see if the warrant was "active" so they could turn themselves in and bond out (even their charges are normally what people are allowed to have signature bonds for, but in their case they set a $3,500 cash bail bond [each] for them).
On June 19, 2018, two police officers showed up at Brian and Angela's house to arrest them (their daughter at home at and all) and drove back to the police department (with them in the police unit) to pick up the warrant that has been signed since March 28th and never entered into the system - which prevented them from being able to turn themselves in...the officers took the warrant to the jail and turned in the warrant number when they brought Brian and Angela in.
Now it is pending waiting for the detective to turn over "discovery" (what "evidence" they are going by to file charges) and there is a 30 day window they have to do this by. Initially (and which is the "norm") the police officer's report should have been given to their attorney, however, the officer never did that.
The prayer request is for the truth to come out, and prayerfully hoping that this can be resolved outside of a court hearing or the charges be reduced - just anything that would not be them being found guilty of a felony and whatever fines (above the owed restitution amount) and worst of all, a prison sentence - worst case scenario, but possible.
This has been a horrific emotional and financial setback for them. My daughter has not found employment yet since being terminated in January and my son-in-law is in the construction business (he is self-employed) and their financial losses are to the point of having to have financial assistance from family (which is not going to be an unlimited source) and the risk of losing their home. The being falsely accused part and now having to "prove" innocence, and being in the hands of the legal system is extremely stressful and hard for them as well as family members standing by them - it's a "hands tied" and helpless feeling for all of us and they are really struggling.
Needing prayers for peace and a rightful outcome, and to God be the glory for this! The attack of the enemy is strongly felt and we all just need prayer support as we go through this testing and valley and waiting period!
Thanks everyone for prayers and may God bless each of you!
In Him,
Brenda
My daughter was employed for over 2 yrs. with a small family owned business (2 brothers, and one of the brother's wife) and she was especially extremely close to the wife at her job, beyond just being her boss, counting her as a close friend. On January 11th of this year (2018) my daughter was fired on the spot when she came in for work, due to this allegation that she "stole" a company gas card and used it for personal use - she wasn't even given a chance to answer/explain/talk/respond...just told to leave the office, and this was the first moment she was made aware of this.
The day before she was fired, her husband (my son-in-law, Brian) had his paperwork binder he uses for his job fall to the floor in his truck, and when he picked up the fallen items he saw a gas card that was faded on the top (as one of the dropped items), and at that moment saw that the card said the business name of the company that Angela worked for. He realized he had been using that card for approximately 5 weeks, not realizing it wasn't his personal card. The very minute he saw the card and realized what had happened, he left his work site and crew and called to request meet with any of the 3 owners of where Angela worked. Shortly, he arrived at the business and met with one of the 3 owners (Todd) and explained to him that Angela had no idea he had called to meet him, and that she had no knowledge about him having this gas card. He told Todd that Angela had obviously brought it home with her and he had picked it up, never knowing to realize any possibility of if not being theirs and not paying any attention to the card itself. This gas card that Brian had in his possession and used was always kept in the glove compartment of an old company vehicle at Angela's office that all 50-60 employees use for company business (and are supposed to use this gas card for this vehicle) and all employees have access to this gas card kept in this vehicle. The only explanation possible for the card being in Brian's possession is that Angela brought it home, unknowingly, as she is always placing things in her pocket, which is probably the best guess as to how this could occur.
None the less, Brian went and confessed what had happened, made profuse sincere apologies and told the owner to figure out what amount of money the gas charges would be and that he will pay in full and settle this matter. The owner agreed, was "all smiles" and gave a handshake on the their discussion and said he would get the amount figured out and get back with Brian soon. It goes without saying that without Brian's admission/confession to what happened and bringing the card back to the owner, no one would have ever known where the card was, or who had it or used it.
In a couple of weeks, Brian was called by the owner he spoke with and he requested to meet with him again. At that meeting, everything changed drastically. He told Brian that they feel the card had been used for his and/or Angela's personal use since January 2017 and claims the charges owed are in the $4,000 - $6,000 range. That part of the accusation is the most preposterous, but Brian discussed with him that if Angela was on the job, could he not check her time sheet against times of purchases, etc. and many more scenarios to question how impossible this would be to have happened. The owner had no interest in hearing any other possible explanations and refused to entertain any other possibilities other than this was done purposely and for a year's time period The points Brian made to the owner were before Brian really had a chance to start reviewing with Angela the random pages of credit card bill print-out that the owner gave him for his "proof/documentation".
The owner told Brian he would give him a couple of weeks to pay him. He was aware that Brian denied any use of the card except for the approximate 5 week period that he knows he used the card (at the same local gas station each time). Brian and Angela went over the credit card statement and among other discrepancies, there were charges for diesel fuel (they own no diesel using vehicles), purchases for gallon amounts larger than their vehicle gas tanks hold, sometimes large purchases twice a day, etc., one charge on a day they were on a family vacation 3 hours away at the time of a local gas purchase, etc., and most charges happening during Angela's work hours in the presence of the owners seeing her in view during work.
Based on disagreeing with the owner as to the amount owed and the time frame, Brian and Angela immediately retained an attorney. A certified letter was sent by their attorney the first of February, along with a cashiers check, to the owners for the amount of the charges for the time frame Brian was in possession of the card. The owners signed for the letter, but did not cash the check, and two days after receiving the attorney's letter went to the police department to press charges.
The detective working this case has not been that responsive to their attorney, but the officer was told by their attorney that if a warrant was going to be issued, to contact him (the attorney) and they (Brian and Angela) will turn themselves in immediately (to avoid being picked up randomly from anywhere at any unknown time or in the presence of their teenage daughter, etc.). There was a warrant signed (as it turns out on March 28, 2018), but it was never entered into the system during all this time. Their attorney and their bail bondsman called the jail almost every day to see if the warrant was "active" so they could turn themselves in and bond out (even their charges are normally what people are allowed to have signature bonds for, but in their case they set a $3,500 cash bail bond [each] for them).
On June 19, 2018, two police officers showed up at Brian and Angela's house to arrest them (their daughter at home at and all) and drove back to the police department (with them in the police unit) to pick up the warrant that has been signed since March 28th and never entered into the system - which prevented them from being able to turn themselves in...the officers took the warrant to the jail and turned in the warrant number when they brought Brian and Angela in.
Now it is pending waiting for the detective to turn over "discovery" (what "evidence" they are going by to file charges) and there is a 30 day window they have to do this by. Initially (and which is the "norm") the police officer's report should have been given to their attorney, however, the officer never did that.
The prayer request is for the truth to come out, and prayerfully hoping that this can be resolved outside of a court hearing or the charges be reduced - just anything that would not be them being found guilty of a felony and whatever fines (above the owed restitution amount) and worst of all, a prison sentence - worst case scenario, but possible.
This has been a horrific emotional and financial setback for them. My daughter has not found employment yet since being terminated in January and my son-in-law is in the construction business (he is self-employed) and their financial losses are to the point of having to have financial assistance from family (which is not going to be an unlimited source) and the risk of losing their home. The being falsely accused part and now having to "prove" innocence, and being in the hands of the legal system is extremely stressful and hard for them as well as family members standing by them - it's a "hands tied" and helpless feeling for all of us and they are really struggling.
Needing prayers for peace and a rightful outcome, and to God be the glory for this! The attack of the enemy is strongly felt and we all just need prayer support as we go through this testing and valley and waiting period!
Thanks everyone for prayers and may God bless each of you!
In Him,
Brenda
