Pennsylvania woman goes on trial on fortune-telling charges

[Jazzy]

A Pennsylvania woman went on trial on Monday for the rarely prosecuted offense of fortune-telling, accused of persuading a client she could lift a cloud of "spells and curses" in exchange for payments that likely reached thousands of dollars.

April Uwanawich, 38, of Philadelphia faces 55 counts of fortune telling, theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

She is accused of approaching Jennifer Gardiner in 2009 at a convenience store, where she identified herself as a fortune teller and said she could rid Gardiner of her "dark cloud," according to a police complaint.

During the following two years, Gardiner met with Uwanawich on a regular basis, "continually paying Uwanawich to work on her life, to rid it of evil and to get rid of spells and curses,” the complaint read.

Gardiner was persuaded to stop taking prescribed mental health medication and to buy candles, oils, perfumes and crystals to help ward off evil spirits, it said.

Her financial loss probably ran into “tens of thousands of dollars” but only about $10,000 could be verified, the complaint said.

Uwanawich has two previous arrests for fortune-telling fraud in Chester County, according to court records.

She pleaded guilty in 2009 to stealing $23,000 from a woman to remove a curse and in 2011 to taking $35,000 from another woman to remove a dark cloud over her head.

She was ordered to pay court costs in the first case and received two years of probation in the second, records showed.

Uwanawich faces a cumulative life sentence if convicted of all 55 counts and sentenced to the maximum on each. The state's fortune-telling statute bans fortune-telling for money as well as the use of "spells, charms, necromancy or incantation" in the perpetration of fraud.

Source

Thoughts?

 

[DrLeftover]

The City of Philadelphia, and the state of Pennsylvania as well, have elections coming up. Ms Uwanawich may still have time to file as a candidate for office.

She is obviously well qualified for several elected offices.

 

[Smiley]

I've misread Jennifer Garner instead of Gardiner at first, and thought it's the famous actress. Heh.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

She willingly gave the fortune teller money. Did no research on her own of who this lady is. And now the nanny state needs to step in because the person was a complete moron to keep giving this person money when she felt no success was happening. I don't think so! The judge should have said dismissed, and next time don't be a gullible dumb-ass.

 

[Jazzy]

I don't want a witch. Do Uwanawich?

 

[Smiley]

Yes please.