Masontown woman faces trial in theft case
Two theft charges filed against a Masontown woman for allegedly taking almost $120,000 from an estate last year were held for court at preliminary hearing before District Justice Brenda Cavalcante. The case against Joyce Ann Bane, 46, of 207 Sangston Ave. will now be forwarded to Fayette County Court. She was released on her own recognizance following the hearing.
State police in Uniontown charged Bane with theft by unlawful taking or disposition and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. Both are felony offenses.
According to a complaint and affidavit of probable cause, Bane allegedly took $119,870 from the estate of Joseph Rivak of German Township after he died on April 16, 2001.
Police said Rivak’s sister, Helen Myers of 319 Walnut Hill Road, reported that she and her sister Mary Kairush took a large sum of money from Rivak’s house on April 15, the day he was taken to a hospital.
Myers said they didn’t know if Rivak would return home and didn’t want to leave the money in his house. They took the money to Myers’ home.
On April 16, Myers said she was advised by Bane to bring the money back to Rivak’s house so they could count it. Myers said she and Kairush met Bane at the house and counted the money. Myers said Bane then took the money to her home.
Myers said Bane gave her $3,000 at Rivak’s April 18 funeral at a Hopwood cemetery, and Bane did not return her calls regarding the remainder of the money.
Alex Kairush told police that Bane told him that Rivak wanted all the money divided between her, Myers and Mary Kairush.
When police interviewed Bane, she reported that she was not at Rivak’s home on April 16, never counted any money with Myers or Kairush and there was no agreement with them to disperse money.
She denied giving Myers $3,000 and telling Alex Kairush anything about Rivak’s wishes or dispersing any money. She also denied receiving any calls for Myers regarding the matter.
The preliminary hearing was held Monday.