COUPLE ARRAIGNED ON THEFT CHARGES

12/27/2006

Douglas and Tracy Brant are arraigned in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on

charges of theft from an elderly person and engaging in a pattern of corrupt behavior. The Brants, of 4332 Dogwood Lane, Sylvania Township, are accused of diverting more than $90,000 in assets from Colnetta Corky Raczko into their bank accounts and using the funds for personal reasons. Ms. Raczko, a widow, died in September, 2005, at age 83. The Brants met her at a local senior center, where Mr. Brant was a bus driver. Authorities said he befriended the elderly woman and used his influence to obtain durable power of attorney for her financial affairs. Three months before Ms. Raczko died, Huntington Bank alerted authorities to frequent and large withdrawals from her bank account. The Brants were released on supervised recognizance bonds yesterday and are to be back in court for a hearing Jan. 29 before Judge Gene Zmuda.