Eureka woman accused of stealing from blind man
Sofiah Eden Serene Slette
A Eureka woman is accused of meth possession and stealing money from a blind man.
Sofiah Eden Serene Slette, 20, is charged with one count of felony theft, one count of felony drug possession and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Slette appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Aug. 15 with her attorney Sean Hinchey for a hearing to determine if the case would go to trial.
Hinchey and Lincoln County Deputy Attorney Jeff Zwang agreed the trial would last two days. On May 2, Slette pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance.
According to the probable cause statement filed by Sheriff’s Deputy Bobbie Noel, Slette allegedly took more than $5,000 from a checking account belonging to two Eureka residents who said they did not give her permission to take the money.
The cash withdrawals, done with an online application, began on Dec. 29, 2021 and ended on March 22, 2022.
On April 13, Deputy Noel read the withdrawals from the account to one man, who is blind. The other man said he gave Slette access to his phone and that is how she allegedly was able to make the withdrawals.
Also, on the same day, Noel served a search warrant at the Berger Lane residence. The officer reported finding Slette in the basement of the home. Next to her were small bags containing a white substance, which field tested positive for meth, according to court documents. The officer also reported finding a syringe full of a yellow substance, glass pipes, and five empty syringes.
Conviction for theft is punishable by a maximum term of 10 years in the Montana State Prison. For possession, the maximum is five years. Conviction for drug paraphernalia possession could result in a six-month term in the county jail.