Woman denies theft

CANFIELD

A 68-year-old Austintown woman denied pawning some of the almost $15,000 in jewelry she allegedly stole from her daughter to feed her gambling addiction.

Charlotte Swartzlander, of North Beverly Avenue, indicted in February on one felony count of grand theft, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Swartzlander’s daughter, a Canfield resident, reported the theft to city police in January, claiming nine pieces of jewelry went missing from her home, including one ring valued at about $14,000. Police found the pieces at area pawn shops, records from which show Swartzlander received less than $1,000. She intended to buy “scratch-off” lottery tickets, she later told police.

“Ms. Swartzlander admitted to the theft of jewelry and explained that she struggled with an addiction to gambling,” the report states. Bond was set at $10,000.