Published: October 08, 2008 12:06 am         

Man accused of bilking senior of $800,000

WINDBER, Pa. — The owner of Mousey’s Bar in Windber was jailed Friday after allegedly bilking an older woman out of more than $800,000, West Hills Regional police said.

Authorities are calling Frank Andrew Solensky Jr., 54, of Somerset Avenue, Windber, a “financial predator.”

Solensky, a former part-time police officer, is charged with a felony count of forgery and 18 felony counts of theft by deception.

In a court document, police said the scam began in the early 1990s when Solensky befriended the woman and became her caregiver and handyman.

Solensky allegedly billed the woman for home repairs that were never completed and inflated the cost of other items, including seven remote-control garage door openers for which he charged a total of $16,670.

“He financially molested this lady,” West Hills police Sgt. George Musulin III said.

“He took total unadulterated advantage of her.”

Solensky was taken into custody by Windber police at his business, Musulin said.

He was a part-time police officer for Paint and Windber boroughs in the early 1990s, Musulin said.

Solensky waived extradition to Cambria County and was arraigned by District Judge John Barron of Upper Yoder Township.