Judge Rejects Lower Bail For Montco Woman Accused of Swindling Stroke Victim
By Brad Segall
UPPER GWYNEDD, Pa. (CBS) -- A Montgomery County judge has denied a request for lower bail for an Upper Gwynedd woman accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the stroke victim she was caring for.
Janet Gitney remains behind bars in lieu of $7.5 million bail, on several felony charges (see previous story). She had power of attorney for a 57-year-old, partially paralyzed Hatfield, Pa. man, and prosecutors say she drained his bank account and had his house transferred into her name.
Defense attorney Greg Nester wanted her bail reduced to $99,000 cash -- not to get out of jail, but because the high bail affects her prison status.
"And her movements within the correctional facility are restricted accordingly," Nester says. "We were simply trying to reduce bail so that she would have a little bit more freedom of movement within the Montgomery County Correctional Facility."
Lower bail would put her in the general population.
Although Nester argued she doesn't have the means to post even the lower bail, prosecutor Steven Latzer opposed the request, saying he can't be sure of that.
She had previously fled to the Philippines after learning she was under investigation (see related story).
