Woman accused of stealing from patient in her care

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A Benton County woman has been arrested on suspicion of stealing money from the bank account of a patient in her care.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood’s office says 39-year-old Melissa Collins, of Hickory Flat, surrendered Friday at the Union County jail to face a charge of exploitation of a vulnerable person.

Hood’s office says the state Division of Medicaid was paying Collins to provide homemaker services at a patient’s New Albany home when she allegedly used the patient’s debit card to withdraw $400 without the patient’s consent.

Collins, who worked as an aide for Total Care Services of Greenwood, was released from jail on $10,000 bond. The charge against her carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.