APD: Group-home owner stole from woman

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police have charged the owner of a former group home in northeast Austin with stealing from one of its residents.

And a background check by KXAN shows this isn't the first time this former business owner has been accused of theft.

Tommie Yvette McKinney, 46, has been charged with injury to a disabled individual, a third degree felony, according to an arrest warrant made public Friday.

If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Investigators say McKinney, as early as December, 2007, opened several Conns Electronics credit accounts in the name of one of the residents of Zoe's Place in the 2400 block of Loyola Lane.

Police say McKinney was able to get the victim's identifying information from the application she filled out to stay at Zoe’s Place.

Records show McKinney purchased over $1,100 in furniture and exercise equipment to be delivered to her home at on Loweswater Lane in Austin.

It's not clear from investigators how the victim learned of the owner's actions. He has not yet been arrested on this charge.

In Texas, a person can be charged with injury to an elderly individual if the suspect is the owner or employee of a group home, nursing facility, or assisted living facility and causes the exploitation of a resident of that facility.

A background check of McKinney's criminal history reveals several other arrests for thefts in 1987, 1992, 1995 and 2004.

Attempts to reach McKinney Friday were not successful.