Woman pleads guilty in credit card case

Tuesday, August 9, 2005

MONMOUTH - Amy Hamilton, 35, Oquawka, entered an open plea to unlawful signing of a credit card by a person other than the card holder Monday in Warren County Circuit Court and was put on court supervision for two years, fined $200 and ordered to pay court costs.

Hamilton was arrested Dec. 8 on two counts of unlawful use of a credit card. The original charges said Hamilton intended to defraud Capital One by using a credit card issued to Ryan Bennett without his consent. That charge carried a maximum term of two to five years in prison. The other charge said Hamilton, with the intent to defraud, used a Fred Meyer Jewelers credit card issued to Bennett without his permission. That charge carried a maximum term of one to three years in prison.

Assistant Warren County State's Attorney Andrew Youngquist withdrew the two original charges, reducing the charge to unlawful signing of a credit card by a person other than the card holder, a misdemeanor.

Youngquist asked Judge Greg McClintock to sentence Hamilton to 30 days in jail, 18 months' conditional discharge and a $500 fine.

Hamilton's attorney, public defender Scott Shipplett, asked for one year court supervision and costs.

Youngquist said Hamilton has enrolled in nursing school in West Burlington, Iowa, and paid $2,200 restitution. Hamilton had no prior criminal history.