By Hub City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – A Marshfield woman is facing criminal charges for stealing cash and medication from an elderly woman. Amy L. Leikness, 33, was in Wood County Court on July 16. She’s charged with felony theft, false representation, drug possession, and bail jumping. Bond was set at $10,000.

A criminal complaint says the son of one of the victims, whose mother suffers from dementia, went to police. He said Leikness befriended his mother and started asking for money, claiming that her daughter needed an operation. Over a period of weeks the woman gave Leikness more than $12,000. The victim later agreed to take out a loan. They went to the bank together, but bank employees refused to make the loan.

Prosecutors also say Leikness befriended another elderly woman by offering to do housework and go shopping for her. Leikness is accused of bringing marijuana to her home, and then stealing money and pain medication while they were using it.

A man gave Leikness $1,000 after she promised to find a girlfriend for him.

Leikness has also used the name Amy Hinojosa.

She is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on July 25.