$47K theft suspect sentenced

SANDUSKY — Those in attendance for the sentencing of a local woman who stole $47,000 from her father expressed anger, sadness and confusion due to her actions. Family members and friends of Milan resident Tara K. Jones, 39, listened as Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Tygh Tone sentenced her to five years of probation and required her to pay $780 each month for five years in restitution to her father. This amount equals up to the $47,000. Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter characterized Jones' actions as "brazen" and showed a lack of remorse or accountability. "The victim of the offense suffered serious physical, psychological and economic harm as a result of the offense," said Baxter, adding that Jones' actions led to her father being evicted from his home. "Tara Jones had the opportunity to make this right, but she didn't." Randy Nemitz, the victim's brother, read a victim impact statement on behalf of his brother, Roland Wriker. In the victim impact statement, Nemitz explained that his brother appointed Jones as his power of attorney. "She exhausted his financial accounts, banking and disability income for basically her own personal gain by transferring (money) from his account to cash," Nemitz said. "She consistently and chronically (allowed) withdrawals and charges and, at times, (left) him with less than $100 in his account to survive upon." Background Jones was indicted by an Erie County grand jury in December 2023 following an investigation led by Erie County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Alexis Harvey. Harvey said that Jones' was made her father's power of attorney in April 2022 and that after shortly taking on that role, she misused her father's finances for miscellaneous things such as Amazon and Cedar Point purchases. The theft occurred from April 2022 to April 2023, according to the indictment. On Jan. 15, Jones was found guilty by a jury on all four counts of grand theft, aggravated theft, tampering with evidence and intimidation, all of which were felony charges.