Tribune staff reports

A Bartholomew County woman was arrested Tuesday evening in connection with an investigation into identity theft that began earlier this month, police report.

Lisa N. Joyner, 34, of Columbus, faces Level 6 felony charges of identity deception, theft and fraud in connection with an investigation conducted by officers with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

According to a news release from the department, Reserve Officer Scott Davis started the investigation July 10 when the department received a report from a rural Seymour woman that someone had stolen her identity and used her personal information to obtain credit cards. That woman told police that the person who stole her identity had used the cards to make purchases at local stores and online purchases, police said.

Davis said he reviewed documents from the Seymour woman Tuesday and was able to track down a suspect, later identified as Joyner, from cellphone numbers used for the delivery of online purchases to an address on North State Road 11.

A search warrant was obtained Tuesday and Davis, along with county officers Jesse Hutchinson and Joe Francis, searched the home on State Road 11 and located an item that had been purchased online and then delivered to that residence, police said.

Police also found documents pertaining to a fraudulent credit card and one fraudulent credit card itself.

Joyner was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday and was being held without bond pending her initial hearing in Jackson Circuit Court. A Level 6 felony is punishable by six months to two and a half years in jail upon conviction.

County Officer Adam Nicholson also assisted with the investigation.