A Cedar City man was charged Thursday with six counts of theft after store clerks saw a man steal cash from drop boxes set up to raise money for a woman who needs a liver transplant.
Earnest Robert Miller was arrested on 6 counts of misdemeanor theft, which is punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail on each count.Cedar City Police Department Detective Roy Houchen said clerks at several stores saw a man taking cash out of boxes to collect donations for Carol Marquardson, 54, who needs to raise $90,000 dollars for a liver transplant.
Iron County Attorney Scott Burns said he would seek the maximum penalty, but at this point prosecutors estimate only $500 has been taken. Iron County authorities say they need to prove that at least $250 was taken on one occasion to prosecute the case as a felony.
"I think the facts and circumstances of this case are so egregious that we are going to prosecute Mr. Miller with the full force and effect of the law and hopefully Mrs. Marquardson's endeavor will not be harmed by this," Burns said. "As a community, we can come together to help her and her family."
Marquardson, a mother with four grown children, has been raising money for the liver transplant for about six months. A spokeswoman for the drive raising money for the operation, planned for Salt Lake City's LDS Hospital, says about $50,000 still is needed.