A 29-year-old Rockledge house cleaner who Brevard County sheriff’s investigators said demanded a $500 Christmas bonus from her client before twisting the woman’s arm, grabbing a check and leaving, will go before a judge next month.
Brevard County deputies were called Christmas Eve to a home in Grant after an 83-year-old woman reported that her house cleaner took her checkbook during a confrontation. It was determined later that the cleaning woman, identified as Heather Nelson, cashed a check for $1,400, court records show.
A Rockledge woman who Brevard County Sheriff’s investigators said demanded a Christmas bonus before taking a woman’s checkbook, will go before a judge next month on multiple charges.
Deputies investigated the case and took Nelson into custody Jan. 6, charging her with robbery by sudden snatching, aggravated battery on a person over 65, uttering a forged instrument, grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Investigators determined that Nelson and the woman had gotten into an argument after Nelson demanded a $500 bonus for her services.
“When the victim announced that she didn’t have enough money to give her a bonus, Nelson responded by physically wrenching the victim’s checkbook from her hand, stealing a check from the checkbook, and then, I guess in an effort to ruin other people’s Christmas as well, stole Christmas cards that were set to be mailed out also containing checks!!” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey wrote in a Facebook post that followed the arrest.
The client was later treated for severe pain in her arm and wrist, the sheriff’s office reported.
Nelson remains held on a $30,000 bond at the Brevard County Jail Complex. She is scheduled to go before a judge Feb. 4.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jdgallop@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard Sheriff: Rockledge Cleaner wanted Christmas bonus in theft case
