DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710240749

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: YORK                              LENGTH:   36 lines

WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH TAKING FUNDS FOR ``HER'' DAUGHTER

A woman accused of duping a man into believing the girl for whom she baby-sat was their daughter was arrested in connection with fund-raising for the girl's medical needs.

Valerie Jones also convinced Brenner Carter of Williamsburg that the girl had diabetes, leukemia and a benign brain tumor and eventually died, said Capt. Ron Montgomery of the York County sheriff's office.

In reality, Jones and Carter weren't the parents. And the baby - 2-year-old Trezure McNair of Newport News - is alive and well.

Jones, 36, of Grafton, was arrested Tuesday night and released from jail Wednesday on $5,000 bond.

She was charged with grand larceny based on $800 Carter gave her from a softball tournament he organized in May to raise money for the girl's care, Montgomery said.

A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 17. The charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Jones also faces trial in York on charges of passing bad checks and maliciously giving false information over the phone about the illness of a third party, court records show.

Montgomery said the latter charge is for a call she placed to the sheriff's office in July claiming to be a ``Minister Gray.'' She said Carter needed to call her because his baby was in critical condition at a hospital, Montgomery said.

Two officers were sent to Carter's home. When they dialed the number and got the caller on the phone, Carter recognized Jones' voice, Montgomery said.

A month later, Jones pretended the child had died, Montgomery said. KEYWORDS: ARREST GRAND LARCENY

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