Woman got unemployment while jailed

HAINES CITY, Fla., June 17 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Florida said a woman who allegedly collected unemployment benefits while in jail has been charged with public assistance fraud.

Robin Ballard Dekle, 51, of Haines City was charged with the felony Tuesday by the Florida State Attorney's Office, The (Lakeland, Fla.) Ledger reported Friday.

Dekle received unemployment compensation from September 2009 until November 2010. She was arrested on a probation violation in May 2010 and continued to collect unemployment while serving a jail sentence, prosecutors said.

"While she was receiving the unemployment compensation, she was required to be available for work at all times and she had to actively look for work," investigator David Lyon wrote in an affidavit.

"At the time of Dekle's release on October 6, 2010, the balance in her account had increased to $5,221.62," Lyon wrote. "After being released, Dekle utilized all of these funds for her own use at stores, restaurants, Disney World and Universal."

Dekle is in jail again on unrelated charges of marijuana possession and violation of a domestic violence injunction, both misdemeanors.