Oak Harbor welfare cheat faces jail time

A 42-year-old Oak Harbor woman who lied about her family’s earnings to receive welfare payments may do jail time at home.

A 42-year-old Oak Harbor woman who lied about her family’s earnings to receive welfare payments may do jail time at home.

Lisa Latta pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court March 21 to first-degree theft and second-degree perjury.

The judge sentenced her to 90 days in jail, but ruled that she may serve the time through a home monitoring service.

Latta is accused of lying about her family’s earnings in order to receive welfare, court documents indicate.

Debbie Cheek, an investigator for the Department of Social and Health Services, wrote in a probable cause statement that Latta received $8,710 in financial, medical and food assistance she wasn’t entitled to collect.

The report states that Latta withheld her earnings and husband’s earnings when she applied for assistance.