Elizabethtown Police Chief Bobby Kinlaw said Sharonda Nacole Thurman, 18, was arrested April 17 for one count of obtaining property by false pretenses. She was jailed under 41,000 bond. Thurman gave her address as 1077 Hwy. 211 W., Clarkton.
Thurman was a clerk at the Scotchman store on W. Broad Street in Elizabethtown when she was allegedly running the scam, Kinlaw said.
The CMN fundraiser ended April 1. For a small cash donation, a donor would have his or her name written on a small sticker displayed in a participating store's window.
The charity helps terminally ill children and their families take special trips and enjoy other activities they might not otherwise be able to afford.
The Scotchman is a regular participant in the program.
Thurman allegedly continued making solicitations after the April 1 end date, Kinlaw said. When Det. Fred Fulkerson entered the store April 17, she asked him for a donation as well.
After questioning, Det. Fulkerson arrested Thurman on the fraud charge.
Kinlaw said investigators decided to charge Thurman with one felony count rather than try to find each person from whom Thurman may have stolen donations.
"I would love to know how many people she took," Fulkerson said.
"We have no idea how many people were taken by this," Kinlaw said. "It's a pretty low blow."
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