A Mercer County District Magistrate has ruled sufficient evidence exists to send a Sharon woman to trial on charges of stealing nearly $50,000 through Facebook donation scams.

Following a hearing Wednesday, three theft counts against 60-year-old Kelly Anderson-Clark were forwarded to common pleas court. She is scheduled for an April 29 hearing before Judge D. Neil McEwen.

According to a criminal complaint, Anderson-Clark operated a Facebook group called "Any Port in the Storm," which purported to collect donations for people in need. She allegedly posted fabricated stories about individuals facing hardships, soliciting donations from group members.

Among the alleged posts were stories about a man, identified only as "Butchie," whose wife and daughter had died and who was facing eviction. Another post described a homeless woman, known as "Mary," who was allegedly being harassed and needed money for a motel room.

Police said the posts referred to the individuals only by their first names, with no last names provided.

Group members donated through apps like Venmo, PayPal, and CashApp, sending money directly to Anderson-Clark or her daughter, according to the complaint.

Suspicion arose when Anderson-Clark allegedly refused to provide financial statements, prompting group members to contact police.

Investigators interviewed 12 group members who said they had never met the individuals described in the posts. When they offered assistance, such as rides or food deliveries, Anderson-Clark allegedly claimed the individuals wished to remain anonymous or provided excuses for why they could not meet in person.

The complaint alleges Anderson-Clark used the funds to pay for motel rooms for herself and her two children in the West Middlesex area. Police said they found evidence of cash payments at multiple motels.

Authorities allege Anderson-Clark stole $47,871.04 through the alleged scams.

Anderson-Clark's daughter, interviewed by police, said she accompanied her mother to deliver blankets and other items to people in need, but the last time was in September 2024. She stated she did not know anyone named "Butchie" and did not know the last names of anyone her mother had helped.

During a police interview, Anderson-Clark allegedly maintained that "Butchie" and "Mary" were real people. However, police noted inconsistencies in her statements, such as her inability to confirm whether "Butchie" received Social Security benefits, despite mentioning it in a post. She also could not identify the funeral home where "Butchie's" wife had been, despite claiming to have contacted a funeral director.

The complaint also alleges that Anderson-Clark stated, "I want to tell you I was kicked out of the house. I didn't lie. I did post mom and two kids need somewhere to go."

Police said Anderson-Clark admitted she did not reveal she was the one in need because she was embarrassed.