Woman charged with stealing from soldier

MEDINA, Ohio (AP) -- A woman accused of stealing from a soldier while he served in Iraq wants to repay him, her lawyer said.
Laura Cristell, 44, pleaded innocent Friday to a felony charge of stealing more than $10,000 from Army National Guard Sgt. Todd Graham.
Graham, 40, had authorized Cristell to tend to his financial affairs during his tour in Iraq with the 135th Military Police Company, based near Cleveland in Brook Park.
They were friends from the volunteer fire department in Lodi when Graham asked her to housesit and care for his pets if he was called to duty.
She was supposed to pay his mortgage, taxes and credit-card bills.
But Cristell not only ignored his bills during the five months he was gone but indulged herself with clothes, shoes and concert tickets, Graham said.
When he returned home, Graham pored over credit card and bank statements crammed with bills for food, gas and goods from Wal-Mart and Jo-Ann Fabrics. He had $400 in bank overdrafts.
Her lawyer, David Gedrock, said she misunderstood their deal.
"She truly thought she had the authority to do as she needed as long as she paid him back, which she intends to do. She's sorry about the confusion," Gedrock said. "She's sorry about any problems it may have caused."