A Bradford man accused of stealing an elderly man’s credit card
number through a fake phone solicitation and then running up the
man’s credit card bill waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday on
related charges.

According to court records at District Judge Dom Cercone’s
office, Timothy Nathaniel Barth, 26, of 16 South Ave., Room 211, is
charged with 11 counts of access device fraud, third-degree
felonies; two counts of identity theft, third-degree felonies; nine
counts of identity theft, first-degree felonies; and theft by
unlawful taking and criminal attempt at theft, first-degree
misdemeanors.

According to court records, on Sept. 4, a representative of
Discover Card contacted Bradford City Police to report fraudulent
activity on the account of David Baumgarner, 83, of Port Allegany.
The Fraud Prevention Division of Discover Card placed a block on
his account because of increased usage activity that appeared “out
of the ordinary.”

The representative spoke to Baumgarner, who confirmed the
charges were fraudulent. Baumgarner reported that on Sept. 1 or 2,
he had received a phone call soliciting donations for the Bradford
Fraternal Order of Police, and had given the caller his Discover
Card number.

The representative of Discover Card told police that she had
received three separate calls from unknown persons trying to verify
the status of Baumgarner’s account – one saying he was Baumgarner,
but was unable to give an age; the second giving a name of Cheryl
and saying she had power of attorney over the account; and the
third giving the name of Baumgarner’s daughter and asking why the
card was denied at a sub shop, which was after Discover placed the
block on the account, the records read.

The representative of Discover Card reported to police that
items were being ordered and sent to Room 109 at the Comfort Inn at
76 Elm St. in Bradford. The items, totaling $855.19, included
payments for rooms at Comfort Inn and food delivery costs from
restaurants in Bradford City and Foster Township, according to the
records.

Three police officers went to Comfort Inn and spoke to the
staff, who indicated Baumgarner’s card was used to rent rooms 109
and 115. Barth and two other people were present in Room 115 when
police arrived, the records read. All three were questioned and
police learned that Barth was the person responsible for renting
the rooms and making the charges to Baumgarner’s account, the
records read.

After waiving his hearing, Barth was recommitted to jail in lieu
of $2,500 bail.