Deputies arrested a Gainesville woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a woman with disabilities.
Eva Marie Montgomery, accused of stealing more than $2,000 from a woman with high-functioning Down syndrome, was arrested by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies Monday night, according to the Alachua County Jail.
Montgomery was hired in 2016 to help the woman run errands, a Gainesville Police sworn complaint said.
But in early July 2018, Montgomery began running her own errands with the woman, police said. She went shopping for her family and manipulated the woman into paying for her, the complaint said.
Montgomery was not given permission to spend the woman’s money on herself, police said.
The woman’s bank account went from having $1,979.62 to a negative balance of $159.60 in about two months, police said. Between June and Aug. 15, $2,139.22 was spent.
Montgomery usually bought food and clothing for her kids, police said. A receipt from Walmart shows that Montgomery bought $192.56 worth of school supplies, baby clothes and more in August.
The woman told police Montgomery often curses at her and that she was scared to tell Montgomery no when asked to buy things, the complaint said.
Montgomery was charged with grand theft and abuse of a disabled adult. She was released from the Alachua County Jail Tuesday afternoon after paying a $15,000 bond.
Montgomery could not immediately be reached for comment.
Contact Jessica Curbelo at jcurbelo@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @jesscurbelo
