In-Home caregiver admits to stealing from elderly clients

A Palm Desert woman admitted Wednesday to stealing thousands of dollars in cash and valuables from clients for whom she worked as an in-home caregiver, and was immediately sentenced to six months in a work-release program and five years probation.

Janace Nicole Jingles, 31, pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft and embezzling from dependent elders.

Investigators looking into a series of incidents dating back to January 2014 received a complaint from a 94-year-old Rancho Mirage woman, who reported that cash and a bracelet worth about $10,000 went missing after Jingles began working for her as an in-home caregiver, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies from the Palm Desert Burglary Suppression Unit served a search warrant in March at Jingles’ home in the 74500 block of Avenue 42, where they found the bracelet, other stolen property and evidence related to identity theft, sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Eller said then.

Jingles previously was arrested in January on suspicion of identity theft and elder abuse involving another in-home care client.