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www.hoodrivernews.com Hood River News, Wednesday, February 18, 2015 A5 Caregiver accused of stealing patient’s money over a period of years By BEN MITCHELL Laney was originally hired as an in-home caregiver for the victim more than 10 years ago, but was fired by “the victim, with the assis- tance of DHS (Department of Human Services) in January of last year.” Rasmussen did not offer exact details in court as to how the alleged thefts oc- curred, but made mention of issues with credit cards. “The victimized (is) a very vulnerable person; the vic- tim is a quadriplegic. She can’t even move anything now but her mouth, but she is mentally aware and she is very certain she did not au- thorize Kati Laney to take out these multiple credit cards,” she said. “We’re still conducting ongoing investi- gations with numerous bank accounts. We’re still getting records; this investigation has been going on for a year.” Rasmussen added that al- though charges only detail alleged thefts that occurred from 2011 to 2014, “the con- duct so far, in relationship to the victim, stretches back at least 10 years, but because of nor (Inslee) was not in a po- sition to respond to those re- ports, and that will b contin- ue to be a challenge of the commission to move for- ward,” Nichols said. In January Sen. John Huff- man of The Dalles and a Washington counterpart an- nounced that they would jointly propose legislation in Salem and Olympia to set up a bi-state task force to advice on future funding of the Gorge Commission. Asked about the timing of his resignation given: the funding situation and the pending task force legisla- tion, Nichols said, “it’s just coincidental. I’ve been work- ing with the Ruckelshaus Center and for the last three years, and the Ruckelshaus Center has been working on the assistant director posi- tion for a couple of years and I initially expressed interest in it several months ago be- fore we knew the outcome of the budget discussions. “I sincerely hope the states are able to come together in terms for their agreement to the compact and help that compact work for an agency that is absolutely vital.” Nichols described his work with the Commission and its staff as a unique priv- ilege, saying “I am very proud of what we’ve accom- plished over the last three years and I am confident in our staff and leadership’s ability to work collaborative- ly with Gorge communities, agency partners, Columbia River Treaty tribes, the states, local industry and the public.” “T he Nor thwest f aces many complex and growing challenges. The Columbia River Gorge is more than any one person’s or organiza- tion’s vision – it takes all of us working together to pro- tect the Gorge and prepare our communities for the fu- ture” said Nichols, who holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning. Nichols plans to spend some time with his family and wrap- ping up work on a law degree in environmental and natur- al resources during the tran- sition. He will remain avail- able as needed while the Commission selects a re- placement. Chamberain said Nichols has helped the Commission work better together inter- nally and reached out to ex- ternal partners. He and a five-member staff have stabi- lized basic funding for the agency, solved some long- standing disputes, strength- ened regional relations, ad- dressed recreation and trans- portation concerns, and en- tered a first-ever agreement with Klickitat County. The Commission remains focused on working well to- gether and with the Gorge community. In recent years, the Commission has in- creased capacity for collabo- rative regional planning and bi-state partnership. The Commission is on a path to fill its role as a visionary re- gional planning agency. That role became clear in the Commission’s recent work with Northwest universities, through an assessment that established for the first time what it will take to protect and enhance a truly National Scenic Area and support a vi- brant, sustainable regional economy. Before coming to the Gorge Commission Nichols has served for six years as the Community Services Di- vision manager for the De- partment of Land Conserva- tion and Development, over- seeing a staff of 14 in seven regional offices and helping local governments imple- ment Oregon’s statewide planning program. News staff writer A Hood River caregiver is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly stealing well over $10,000 from a female patient of hers over a period of three years. Kati Rai Laney, 44, was in- dicted in Hood River County Circuit Court last week on 13 charges, nine of which are felonies, including four counts of theft in the first de- gree, four counts of criminal mistreatment in the first de- gree, and one count of aggra - vated theft in the first de- gree. She is also facing four counts of misapplication of entrusted property, a misde- meanor. According to testimony given by Deputy District At- torney Carrie Rasmussen, G ORGE Continued from Page A1 In 2014 the University of Washington and Portland State University did an ad- ministrative assessment of the Gorge Commission at the behest of governors and the Washington Office of Finan- cial Management. The study said that the Gorge Commis- sion had only 25 percent of the resources needed to do its job. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (who resigns effec- tive Feb. 18) responded by in- creasing the commission’s budget by 89 percent, but Washington Gov. Jay Inslee committed to only a 7 per- cent increase in his proposed budget. Kitzhaber’s budg et bumped Oregon’s $891,000 share of the bi-state agency’s budget up to over $1.6 mil- lion. Nichols noted it was “a step in the right direction,” but was “still only half of what we need.” “One of the biggest challenges and has been, building relationships and trying to get the two states to work together and make the sufficient invest- ment in the commission and its role in the Scenic Area, and it is certainly a chal- lenge,” Nichols said Monday Nichols said the Gorge Commission needs $2 mil- lion a year from each state for the commission to do its work, and help the region prepare for long-term protec- tion of the Gorge resources and enhancement of a vi- brant and sustainable econo- my. “I think it’s a reasonable investment,” he said. By law, the funding from each state must be equal, even if that means accepting less than is offered from the State of Ore- gon. “Unfortunately the gover- Kati Rai Laney PIPPA - t p Ado A- Pet Your Business Here the statute of limitations, there are some things that we are never going to be able to reach back and get.” Although they weren’t in- cluded in the list of charges, Rasmussen noted that she was looking into additional charges regarding changes to the victim’s life insurance policies allegedly made by Laney. “One of the things that is quite alarming to me that I think speaks to a potential danger to the victim is three very large life insurance policies that in recent years — and this could be an iden- tity theft case we’re looking at — were all converted to make Kati Laney the benefi- ciary,” she explained. Ras- mussen noted that “it always sends up red flags when we see one insurance policy after another on someone’s life when their heath is de- clining, cutting out their families, to the benefit of a caregiver.” Rasmussen stated that she believed these were policies that the victim “never could have signed because she can’t move her hand.” She added that the Veterans Af- Small Business Showcase returns March 13 to a new lo- cation – Butler Bank Build- ing, 301 Oak St. Businesses interested in renting a booth at the event ($100 fee) may register at the Hood River Chamber of Commerce website, hoodriv- er.org. At Small Business Show- case, attendees of the free event meet business owners and employees and learn about goods and services available in the Gorge. Steffen Lunding and Clau- dia Lane of Red Tail Hold- ings had renovated the build- ing and operated it as 301 Gallery in 2012-13. The building was last used for the Holiday Pop-Up mar- ket in November-December 2014. The showcase will be the first public event at Butler Bank Building since Stephanie Laur and Union Event Co. assumed manage- ment in January. The compa- ny (unioneventco.com) pro- vides event planning at But- ler Bank as well as custom lo- cations. Butler Bank Building, in the 1927 building that for- merly served as city hall until 2010, is available for rent for parties, receptions, dinners, and other events. THE BUTLER BANK building will host the Small Business Showcase, which returns Friday, March 13. C HARGE commercial flight down to the San Francisco Airport and picked up Nichols on Thursday, who was previous- ly housed at the San Mateo County Jail. English de- clined to provide details on how law enforcement offi- cers in California were able to find Nichols. Hood River County Deputy District Attor ney Carrie Rasmussen’s office was con- tacted for additional infor- mation, but Rasmussen was not able to be reached direct- ly. Nichols was arraigned at the Hood River County Cour- thouse late Friday morning, but no additional informa- tion was provided. He is currently on a no- bail hold and faces a mini- mum sentence of 25 years in prison, with a maximum sen- tence of life. Nichols is next scheduled to appear March 3 at 11 a.m. Continued from Page A1 in April 2014 — 10 months be- fore his actual arrest this week. The indictment con- tains little infor mation about the crime, other than the name of the victim and the date of the incident. English said deputies Kyle Cozad and Jesse Flem took a Today Feb 18 Thurs. Feb 19 Forecast Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Daytime / Overnight High / Low (°F) 58° / 43° 58° / 41° We can help you ® with your home purchase and refinance needs Molly Searcy Agi Bofferding Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS ID# 116243 Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS ID# 114602 541.490.1827 Mobile 866.789.9515 Fax msearcy@stearns.com 541.380.0501 Mobile 844.878.9483 Fax abofferding@stearns.com • Stearns Lending, LLC • Hood River Office • Licensed in OR & WA • Branch NMLS# 1161812 • • 208 Third St. Hood River, OR 97031 • stearnshomeloans.com/hoodriver - Contact us today! Call Kirsten, Liana, Jody or Chelsea at 541-386-1234 Date Stearns Lending, LLC is a California corporation headquartered at 4 Hutton Centre Drive, 10th Floor, Santa Ana, California 92707. (800) 350-LEND (5363) Company NMLS# 1854. Washington. Consumer Loan Company License #CL-1854. Oregon Mortgage Lending License #ML-1041. This information is accurate as of December 1, 2014. © 2014 Stearns Lending, LLC. All Rights Reserved. SHL615_12114. Oregon Weather Map Astoria 42° | 62° Newport 45° | 63° Humidity 99% Wind Speed SW 1 G 3 MPH Barometer NA WASH. Portland 40° | 62° Salem 37° | 61° Eugene 38° | 62° Fri. Feb 20 Partly Cloudy 56° / 38° North Bend 43° | 65° Sat. Feb 21 Sunny 57° / 38° Medford 39° | 66° Sun. Feb 22 Sunny 55° / 36° Dewpoint 30°F (-1°C) Visibility NA Pendleton 29° | 52° Bend 29° | 56° Ontario 32° | 56° Last Update on 16 Feb 8:00 am PST IDAHO Klamath Falls 30° | 62° CALIF. © 2015 Wunderground.com Today’s Forecast Mon. Feb 23 Tues. Feb 24 Sunny Sunny WINTER CHECKLIST 56° / 36° 57° / 39° Conor Sullivan. He argued that bail should be reduced as his client had “no crimi- nal history, no traffic history, and I don’t believe even any parking tickets.” He said Laney was a “life-long resi- dent of Hood River” with a husband and three children as well as being a “4-H leader” and involved with her daughter’s softball team. Sullivan also noted that Laney had been a CNA since the age of 18. Laney bailed out of the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility on Fri- day, with conditions of her release including no contact with the elderly or disabled in a caregiving capacity and no possession of any debit or credit cards that are not in her name. Rasmussen’s office was contacted for more informa- tion on the case, but Ras- mussen did not respond by press time. The next court appearance for Laney is set for March 30th. The most serious of the charges levied against Laney could result in up to a 10-year prison sentence. Small Business Showcase March 13 Would your business like to support local shelter pets? Hood River Weather Forecast fairs Office had been made aware of the case. It was mentioned that Laney is currently employed at a caregiving facility, but the name of the facility was not given in court. According to a Facebook page for Laney, she has been employed as a “CNA” or “certified nurse’s assistant” at Providence Brookside Manor in Hood River 2006. Susan Frost, public affairs manager for Providence Hood River Memorial Hospi- tal, confirmed that Laney had been an employee of Brookside Manor and was still employed as of Tuesday mor ning. She would not comment on whether there would be any sort of discipli- nary action levied against Laney and would not com- ment further on the alleged incident due to the “ongoing investigation.” Bail for Laney was origi- nally set at $15,000, then raised to $30,000 by Judge John A. Olson per Ras- mussen’s request. Bail was dropped to $4,000 during a subsequent court appear- ance after a request was made by Laney’s attorney, Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Actual High / Low AGRIMET HOOD RIVER OR Lat: 45.6842 Long: -121.5181 Elev: 510 http://uspest.org Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 - - - - - - - 48/43 57/43 54/36 60/37 56/34 61/42 59/33 Updated Monday, Feb. 16 at 9:00 a.m. PST Data from www.weather.com HOOD RIVER 3140 W. 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