Tinney

PHILIPPI — A Barbour County woman faces five felony charges after allegedly taking more than $20,000 from an elderly person’s bank account without permission over the span of 14 months.

Ranee Lynn Tinney, 52, is charged with one count of obtaining a signature by false pretenses, three counts of forging, uttering or attempting to employ as true, a forged writing to the prejudice of another and one count of financial exploitation of elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult for $1000 or more. All charges are felonies.

Tinney is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $20,490 cash-only bond.

The criminal complaint filed by Cpl. Gunnar Kennedy with the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office, states that on May 28, Kennedy received a walk-in complaint regarding suspected financial crimes.

A witness, who holds medical power of attorney for the alleged victim, told Kennedy that the alleged victim met Tinney in 2024 when Tinney was employed at Shop N’ Save in Philippi, the complaint states. The witness stated that a relationship developed between Tinney and the alleged victim. Tinney allegedly began assisting the alleged victim with transportation to medical appointments, which allegedly provided her access to “his personal and financial information.”

The witness discovered multiple checks had been written and “negotiated” from the alleged victim’s account without authorization, resulting in overdrafts, the complaint states. Both the alleged victim and the witness allegedly both claimed they did not write, sign or cash the checks.

Kennedy writes that bank records and statements, including records obtained via a search warrant, confirmed that several checks bearing the alleged victim’s name had been deposited and cashed allegedly by Tinney.

According to the criminal complaint, multiple checks were identified by the alleged victim as unauthorized, including one for $450 that was cashed while the alleged victim was hospitalized. Two of the checks contained significant discrepancies from the alleged victim’s known signature and one was allegedly determined to be in Tinney’s handwriting.

Surveillance video from the bank allegedly captured Tinney during at least one transaction involving the checks.

Over approximately 14 months, Tinney allegedly obtained approximately $20,940 from the alleged victim, the complaint states.

On Sept. 14, Kennedy spoke with Tinney, who allegedly “denied forging or signing any of the checks, claimed poor memory and displayed concern with one of the checks,” the complaint states. Tinney allegedly stated that the largest amount she had received from the alleged victim was $800.