A Bellevue woman faces up to 29 years in prison and an $11,000 fine for allegedly stealing a truck, cash, a debit card and a credit card from a Hailey man last week.
Rebecca Kae Olinger, 46, appeared in 5th District Court in Hailey on Monday for arraignment on two counts of felony grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petit theft.
Hailey Police Lt. Steve England wrote in a report that he responded to a call from alleged theft victim James Michael Evans on March 28 at 10 a.m. at his home in Hailey. Evans told England that he had been at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Bellevue the night before with Olinger and the two had driven back to his house, intending to use his hot tub.
England wrote that Evans said he got into the hot tub and waited for Olinger. Evans told England that he heard his 2008 Ford F-350 start and leave. He said he went inside his house to find Olinger gone and $300 missing from his money clip. England wrote that Evans said his U.S. Bank debit and Shell Station fuel cards were also missing.
On March 28, Evans filled out a stolen vehicle report and showed England several failed transactions attempted on his U.S. Bank card at gas stations in Mountain Home and Boise. England wrote that he contacted police in Boise with the description of Evans’ truck, which was believed to have been parked and left at a Walmart in the area.
However, England wrote, the truck was located by a Boise police officer at an apartment complex on Vista Avenue in Boise on March 30, less than a mile from where Olinger allegedly attempted to use Evans’ debit card.
England said in an interview Tuesday that Olinger turned herself in to sheriff’s deputies at the Blaine County jail Sunday night.
In court Monday, Olinger pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor petit theft charge, and Judge Ted Israel appointed her a public defender, setting her bond at $10,000 due to her extensive criminal record and previous failures to appear.
Olinger is due in court again on April 12 for a preliminary hearing on the felony grand theft charges.