A Chandler woman who is charged with obtaining food stamps by fraud has been ordered to return to court next month.
A $10,000 bench warrant that was issued for Valerie Marie Cox, 47, the same day she was charged, was returned and filed in July.
Special Judge Emily Mueller in August ordered the case continued until 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7. At that time Cox is to appear with her attorney.
Cox was charged July 8 in Lincoln County District Court with the felony.
The felony accuses Cox of using a food stamp card of Mary Duran to acquire food in 14 transactions worth in the aggregate of $761.09 which she, the defendant, was not entitled to from he Department of Human Services.
The charge states this occurred between April 4, 2021 and April 18, 2021 in Lincoln County.
Chandler Police Officer Shane Mustard, in an application for an arrest warrant, states he was dispatched to a residence in Chandler on a case of suspected fraud. He said on his arrival he spoke with Duran who advised him that she checked her balance on her food stamp card and it was not right.
She further told the officer she had contacted the Department of Human Services where she was given a transaction history of charges on her card. Duran advised the officer the dates start on April 4, 2021 and go to April 18, 2021.
Mustard said he received a copy of the list and started contacting the retailers shown to be used.
The officer reported he received multiple photos from Walmart with nine transactions, two at the Chandler Dollar General, a single transaction at the Chandler On-Cue, a single transaction at Williams Grocery located in Chandler and another at the On the Way gas station in Chandler.
He stated there were a total of 14 transactions that took place within the city limits of Chandler, while another two occurred in Wellston and Luther.
The officer showed the photographs from Walmart and the female suspect was identified as Valerie Marie Cox, the victim’s niece, Officer Mustard reported.