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A 20-year-old Philadelphia woman has been sentenced to ARD and probation for allegedly stealing from a care-dependent woman in Lower Gwynedd.
A home health aide with Visiting Angels Living Assistance, who was accused of stealing cash and a credit card from an elderly Lower Gwynedd Township woman in July 2022, has been granted access to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.
Court records show 20-year-old Jordan Branch, of Philadelphia, was placed into the ARD program on March 5, with sentencing notes indicating a two-year probationary period has been tethered to the agreement. Branch must perform 60 hours of community service, make full restitution, and write an apology letter to the victim, while also abiding by any and all special conditions put in place by the Montgomery County Adult Probation Department.
If Branch successfully completes the program, felony counts of identity theft and access device fraud, along with misdemeanor counts of access device fraud, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, would be dismissed. However, if she is unsuccessful in the ARD program, all charges would be reinstated, court records show.
Acceptance into the ARD program is not an admission of guilt, per the state statute.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Lower Gwynedd Township Police Department, which began during the summer of 2022 after investigators learned that a Branch had allegedly stolen upwards of $1,450 in cash from envelopes stored in the kitchen of a home belonging to an 86-year-old care-dependent woman. Branch, who served as the woman’s home health aide, also allegedly stole the woman’s credit card, which was later used to make $403.19 worth of purchases, according to the criminal complaint.
Charges were filed against Branch on Oct. 4, 2022 and she was subsequently taken into custody the following day. She has remained free on $50,000 unsecured bail since that time.
In response to a request for comment, Visiting Angels Senion Vice President of Brand Administration Dan Drennen said the following:
"Based on our initial investigation we're unable to confirm anyone by that name having ever been employed by anyone associated with Visiting Angels. We are continuing to look into this matter as the safety of our clients is of the highest priority."
Wissahickon Now can confirm that investigators identified the agency as Visiting Angels Living Assistance in the affidavit of probable cause.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gwendolyn Kull, and Branch was represented by James Tone, Esq., of the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office.
Should the charges be reinstated, Branch would face a maximum of seven years in prison on the felony charges.
