By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 51-year-old Vinemont woman who is facing charges alleging she stole from a 90-year-old victim has been released from the Shelby County Jail pending her trial.

Clara Nanette Owens, who lists an address on Cullman County 1078 in Vinemont, has been released from the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $30,000, according to Shelby County Circuit Court documents.

While she is out on bond awaiting the resolution of her case, Owens must continue to reside at her Vinemont address, and “must not change residence or leave the state of Alabama without written notification to or permission from the court having jurisdiction of this case.”

She also must obtain or keep full-time employment or education, must avoid alcoholic beverages and drugs and must take and pass random drug screens while she is out on bond.

The Alabaster Police Department arrested Owens on Nov. 17, 2015, and charged her with one felony count of financial exploitation of an elderly person and four counts of fraudulent use of a debit or credit card.

Alabaster Police Department Lt. Grant Humphries previously said the charges came after the department began investigating several fraudulent credit card charges made at stores in the city between June 3-23, 2015.

After looking into the charges, APD investigators determined Owens allegedly was using a 90-year-old man’s credit card to make personal purchases without authorization. Owens was the victim’s caregiver, Humphries said.

Financial exploitation of an elderly person, which applies to victims 60 and older, and fraudulent use of a credit or debit card are Class C felonies, according to Alabama law. Class C felonies carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison per charge upon conviction.

Owens is scheduled to appear in Shelby County District Court at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 for a preliminary hearing, according to court records.