Missouri sheriff's wife charged with ID theft

LAMAR, Mo. (AP) -- A Missouri sheriff's wife is accused of using her mother-in-law's Social Security numbers and those of two other people to run up $14,000 in credit-card debt.

Susan Michelle Higgins -- the 36-year-old wife of Barton County Sheriff Shannon Higgins -- is charged with one count of felony identity theft.

A probable-cause statement alleges that Susan Higgins used Social Security numbers in April 2005 to obtain American Express cards. The cards were in the names of Jules and Twila Hollingshead, and Higgins' mother-in-law, Sharon Higgins.

Jules Hollingshead said he and his wife used their Social Security numbers to get a bingo license for a community center. Hollingshead and Higgins both served on the center board.

Higgins denied she used the couple's data to get the credit card.

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Information from: The Joplin Globe: http://www.joplinglobe.com