Go Fund Me Theft Bound Over to District Court

A Sidney woman faces up to a maximum of two years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine after a theft case in which she was accused of misappropriating funds she was administering was bound over to Cheyenne County District Court Monday.

In an amended complaint, in Cheyenne County Court, Samantha D. Robertson, 27, was charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking $1,500-4,999, a Class 4 felony. Robertson waived her right to a preliminary hearing, and her case was assigned to District Court.

According to court records, Robertson set up a Go-Fund-Me account to assist Barbara Serkiz, whose home was destroyed by fire in December.

According to the police report, Serkiz was told by Robertson multiple times that there were delays in releasing the Go-Fund-Me funds. Serkis told police that after a number of inquiries, Robertson told her that she had used the funds, $1,418.94, for her own personal use. When interviewed by police, Robertson admitted to using the funds for personal expenses and items for her home.

Robertson was cited by police and released.

Assistant Cheyenne County Attorney’s Jonathan Stellar said the charges were amended when, after news reports came out, another party reported that they had given Robertson $200 in Walmart gift cards to go toward the Serkis family. That party alleged the cards were not presented to Serkis. Stellar said the additional dollar total put the alledged theft into a felony amount.

Stellar said between the time of her arrest and the filing of charges, Robertson had paid back $1,418.94 to Serkiz.

Robertson is now scheduled to appear in Cheyenne County District Court for arraignment April 3.