By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 31-year-old Pell City woman who is facing several identity theft charges has been released from the Shelby County Jail after her bonds were significantly lowered by a Shelby County District Court judge in early December.

Jennifer Lynn Massey, who lists an address on Rainbow Row in Pell City, was released from the Shelby County Jail on Dec. 6 on bonds totaling $8,000 after her bonds were reduced by Judge Daniel Crowson from their original total of $80,000.

The bond reduction came at the request of Massey’s attorney, who claimed Massey was unable to post the $80,000 bond, had “no prior felonies and is not a danger to the community,” was “about to be evicted from her residence and have her automobile repossessed due to her incarceration.” The bond reduction request also claimed Massey “is not a flight risk, as she must remain in this area to manage her personal affairs.”

Massey’s reduced bond came despite the objection of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

The Alabaster Police Department arrested Massey on Oct. 4, 2018, and charged her with five counts of identity theft and two counts of first-degree theft of property. All of the charges are Class B felonies, meaning Massey could face up to 20 years in prison per count if she is convicted.

Massey’s charges came after she allegedly obtained an Alabaster victim’s online banking information and used it to withdraw money from ATMs, make payments on her vehicle and apply for loans.

According to her warrants, Massey allegedly made the following actions with the victim’s banking information between Jan. 1 and Sept. 10 of 2018:

-Obtained two loans in the victim’s name for $350 apiece

-Obtained a $500 loan in the victim’s name

-Obtained a verification code from the victim’s online banking account she allegedly used to withdraw money from an ATM

-Made a $419.83 payment on her vehicle from the victim’s bank account.

Massey also allegedly stole $2,910 from the Alabaster victim and stole $4,065 from a Pelham company, leading to her pair of first-degree theft of property charges.

She is set to appear in Shelby County District Court on March 21 for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Daniel Crowson.