Tahoe woman charged with ATM thefts

Nevada Appeal Staff Report

A 39-year-old South Lake Tahoe woman who was recorded withdrawing $700 from an automatic teller machine with a stolen card as her 10-year-old son watched is to appear in East Fork Justice Court on Aug. 19.

Justice Jim EnEarl appointed Derrick Lopez on Monday to represent Diana Drinkard on felony charges of fraudulent use of a credit card.

She turned herself in after a friend recognized her picture in a Secret Witness story in the newspaper, offering up to $1,000 for her conviction.

According to reports, on April 26, the victim left her ATM card in the Minden Bank of America machine after a withdrawal and drove away. Drinkard allegedly drove up after her and used the card four times to withdraw $700 before it was declined for a fifth try.

"I know what I did was very wrong. I want everybody to know I'm very sorry," Drinkard said Monday.

In her statement to deputies, Drinkard said she found the card in the machine and tried to get the owner's attention by honking her horn, but the woman drove away.

"Then I made a very bad decision," she said, adding she wants to make restitution.

Drinkard claims she used the money to make car payments, pay utility bills and insurance. She said she was the single mother of two boys and had lost her job.

The boys were in the car when she made the withdrawals, according to reports.

EnEarl released Drinkard on her own recognizance under the supervision of the Department of Alternative Sentencing.

She must abstain from drugs and alcohol and may not contact the victim.