Washington Co. Woman Takes Plea Deal In Fake Cancer Fundraiser
CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania woman charged with running a fake GoFundMe page for a terminally ill cancer patient has accepted a tentative plea agreement.
Twenty-six-year-old Brittani McDonald, of Muse, waived a preliminary hearing on attempted theft charges Thursday and plans to accept 18 months' probation.
Cecil Township Police say McDonald set up the page after learning of other efforts to support Luke Blanock.
Using the alias "Eric P.", McDonald set up the account but bungled the attempt by spelling Blanock's name incorrectly and botching a Twitter hashtag. Legitimate efforts to help Blanock were hashtagged "Luke Strong" but the phony GoFundMe page was tagged "Stay Strong Luke."
Kurt Blanock, the ill young man's father, says he's "a little bit hurt" by the effort, but says it doesn't take away from the "overwhelming" support others have offered.
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