The Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 68 year old rural Mountain Home woman, DIANE MARIE JANIK, on felony theft charges after receiving two complaints from separate elderly victims.
On April 30, 2021, the first victim, who owned a home in Baxter County that she had sold and was moving out of town, stated she had arranged with DIANE JANIK, who was doing business as Estate/Moving or Garage Sales by Diane, to sell personal property items belonging to the victim. The arrangement called for JANIK to deposit the proceeds from the sale into the victim’s account, less a 30% fee charged by JANIK for her service. As of July 16, 2021, this victim still had not received the proceeds from the sale of her property and contact the Sheriff’s Office to make a report. An Investigator spoke with JANIK, who came up with an excuse and promised to pay the victim immediately. As of July 26, 2021, the victim still had not received any money from JANIK.
The second victim reported that she had arranged with JANIK to perform the same kind of service to sell personal property after her home as well had sold and she would be moving out of state. This arrangement had been made on April 28, 2021. The sale occurred on June 9th and 10th. As of July 20, 2021, JANIK had still failed to pay the victim for the proceeds from this sale. The victim spoke with JANIK by phone, and she again came up with excuses as to why the money had not been sent to the victim.
Sheriff’s Investigator Dwight Duch then applied for a warrant for the arrest of DIANE JANIK for two counts of Theft, and the warrant was issued on July 30th. DIANE JANIK surrendered herself to the Baxter County Detention Center today, August 3rd, to have the warrant served. She was booked on two felony counts of Theft of Property. DIANE JANIK is scheduled to appear before the Circuit Court to answer on August 12th.
