Woman charged in theft at Manalapan group home
On Aug. 8, a Monmouth County Grand Jury returned a two-count indictment charging Incenge Torres, 29, of Toms River, with third degree theft and fourth degree forgery.

According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Torres was employed as resident manager for a Manalapan group home operated by the Arc of Monmouth, a nonprofit organization that provides services for individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities. One of Torres' responsibilities was to assist the residents of the group home with their finances and banking.

An investigation conducted by the Manalapan Police Department revealed that between Jan. 1, 2003 and Feb. 6, 2006, Torres took advantage of her position to steal approximately $51,484 from six residents of the group home. She then concealed the thefts by altering and making fictitious entries in the victims' savings account passbooks. The scheme was uncovered by an audit which was undertaken because several of the residents' checks bounced, according to the press release.

The next court proceeding will be an arraignment, which is the formal presentation of the indictment to the defendant. The arraignment will be scheduled within the next 45 days before state Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet, sitting in Freehold.

If convicted, Torres faces a potential prison sentence of between three and five years on the theft charge and a maximum of 18 months on the forgery charge, according to the press release.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, "Swindling vulnerable individuals placed in your care is particularly dishonorable. Entrusted with the duty of educating these extraordinary people with the life skills necessary to support their independence, Torres instead taught her residents a harsh lesson about deceit and thievery."

Torres is currently free on $5,000 bail.