Police: Mercer Co. man took $185K from grandma's accounts

SHARON, Pa. (AP) — A Mercer County man faces charges alleging he looted his grandmother's bank accounts of $185,000 which police say he used to pay country club dues, buy a BMW and pay off credit card debt.

The attorney for 29-year-old Bret Friedrich, of Sharon, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

Online court records confirm  Friedrich faces a Jan. 10 preliminary hearing on one count of theft.

The Mercer County Agency on Aging began investigating in May 2011 when officials there determined the Hermitage woman was unable to take care of herself and found her bills weren't being paid.

That led to an investigation by Mercer County detectives who determined the money was taken by her grandson who had power-of-attorney on her accounts.