subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Wed, Feb 10 2010 

Published November 04, 2009 09:29 pm - PINEVILLE, Mo. — A former clerk in the McDonald County prosecutor’s office will stand trial on a felony charge of stealing after allegedly faking cancer and then taking donations for assistance, a judge ruled Wednesday. Tammy R. Young was bound over for trial after a brief preliminary hearing that consisted principally of testimony from a former co-worker who helped organize fundraisers for Young in April and May.

Former clerk, accused of faking cancer, ordered to stand trial



By Derek Spellman

dspellman@joplinglobe.com

PINEVILLE, Mo. — A former clerk in the McDonald County prosecutor’s office will stand trial on a felony charge of stealing after allegedly faking cancer and then taking donations for assistance, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Tammy R. Young was bound over for trial after a brief preliminary hearing that consisted principally of testimony from a former co-worker who helped organize fundraisers for Young in April and May. Young was charged with two counts of felony stealing in August, after being fired the previous month and after an unsuccessful appeal for reinstatement, according to court documents.

T.C. Banta, who still works in the prosecutor’s office, told the court Wednesday that Young first told her in October 2008 that she suffered from Ewing’s sarcoma, a malignant form of tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue.

“She stated that the cancer has come back,” Banta said.

Young, according to Banta, later said that she had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for her cancer at hospitals in Neosho, Joplin and Tulsa, Okla., initially once a week and then twice a week.

Young’s co-workers in the prosecutor’s office, including Banta, approached her earlier this year and asked if they could help with fundraisers, according to Banta’s testimony. Young, 42, agreed.

The first fundraiser, which took place in late April, consisted of a baked potato bar in the courthouse and generated about $520. The second, which took place in May, was a poker run that also featured an auction, a chicken dinner and a dunk tank. It generated about $5,400 for Young.

Banta said Young had not asked for the fundraisers, although she did collect items for the auction and helped create designs for T-shirts.

Young’s defense attorney, Ross Rhoades, of Neosho, asked Banta under cross-examination if she saw Young exhibit any symptoms such as hair loss or nausea.

“She did come in with no hair,” Banta said. She later said under questioning by special prosecutor Duane Cooper that Young had “shaved” her head, and that she did not look closely enough to see whether the hair was falling out.

“I had no reason to doubt at that point,” Banta said.

Banta did say under cross-examination that Young looked “in pain” at times, struggling to walk. She said she did not see any symptoms of nausea.

The only other witness to testify Wednesday was McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson, who investigated the case.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Jobs

LPN FOR MDS COORDINATOR
LPN FOR MDS Coordinator, experience required. Apply at Seneca House, 914 Chickesaw, Seneca, MO or call Holly at 417-776...>MORE

ADMINSTRATOR/OFFICE MANAGER
ADMINISTRATOR/OFFICE MANAGER
Regional Eye Center PC. Busy multi doctor optimology practice seeks office manager/adm
...>MORE

FRONT LOADER
driver needed, local routes, experienced driver preferred. Class B license required. Pay $10-$11 per hour. Call for inte...>MORE

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Southwest Missouri trucking company has opening for day shift Broker/Dispatcher. Qualified person must h...>MORE

RECEPTIONIST
busy law office seeking full-time receptionist. Previous experience required, mulit-tasking, computer skills, and great ...>MORE

MECHANIC NEEDED
MECHANIC NEEDED Southwest MO trucking company seeks mechanic. Pay based on experience. Apply in person, 921 N. High Str...>MORE

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
Non-profit organization searching for Senior Accountant. Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, 3 to 5 years combination of pu...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

CHEVROLET, 1999 MONTE CARLO
169,000 miles, $2750. (417)540-9986...>MORE

2001 GRAND PRIX
Richard Petty Special Edition Package, $4995/offer. 417-317-2000....>MORE

SATURN, 2001 SC-2
154,000 miles, $2850. (417)540-9986...>MORE

PONTIAC, 1999 SUNFIRE
148,000 miles, $2750. (417)540-9986...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

5 ACRES INCLUDES UTILITIES
5 ACRES includes utilities + creek + paved road, near Downstream, $2,950 down, $500/month. owner finance. 800-720-8503...>MORE

1 BR, BONUS ROOM
1 BR 1 ba, bonus room, 2115 S. Pennsylvania #B, Joplin. Refrigerator, stove, small storage shed, central heat/air, $385/...>MORE

VALENTINES GIFT
Unique Gorgeous Valentines Gift
1112 W. 5th, Joplin. Approximaitely 2200 sq. ft, could be 4,000 sq. ft. 3 br, 2 ba
...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

VALENTINE YORKIES
girls and boys, 8-weeks, smallest 1 lb. 7 oz., starting price $400. Home raised. All up to date. Comes with bed and carr...>MORE

APR FRENCH BULLDOG

14 week old female. Brindle with white markings. $900. 417-540-7490
...>MORE

BLOOD PYTHONS
Blood PYTHONS Adult and juvenile Blood Pythons for sale. Adults are proven 100% het for albino. Adults are breeders and...>MORE

FOR SALE DOBERMAN PUPS

6 males and 1 female, date of birth 1-18-2010 all black and rust, mom and dad for more information please call Je
...>MORE

AKC ENGLISH BULLDOGS
AKC English Bulldogs, quality home raised puppies, born New Year’s eve, ready just in time for Valentines Day. $1000. (4...>MORE

GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPS
GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPS, AKC, shots, wormed, ready to go $250. (417)850-5060...>MORE

MINI SCHNAUZER
4 months, male, $75 with papers and accessories. (417)434-8830....>MORE

BEAUTY SHOP EQUIPMENT
Beauty shop equipment, 4 styling chairs, $100 each; 4 floor mats, $50 each; 4 shampoo bowls with faucets, $50 each; 4 sh...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition