- Tuesday, 20 October 2026
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Lincolnton Woman Charged with 16 Felonies
Including Exploitation of an Elderly/Disabled Adult and Forgery
(Photo Courtesy Lincoln County Sheriff's Office)
LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C.—On Monday, October 19, 2026, following an investigation conducted by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, Melony Nicole Shinn, 35, of Lincolnton, was charged with 16 felonies, including exploitation of an elderly/disabled adult and forgery.
Investigators determined that Shinn, who was employed by a local home health care business, removed checks from a patient's checkbook on multiple occasions while tending to the patient at their residence. Shinn then made the checks payable to herself, forged the patient's signature, and deposited the checks into her personal bank account.
Shinn was taken into custody on the charges and is currently being held at the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $70,000 secured bond.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Estrada with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at 704-732-9050.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office