An Elk County woman jailed earlier this year is now facing felony forgery and related charges after allegedly trying to interfere with a court order by instructing others to lie about ownership of her personal property, according to court records.
On August 15, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against 57-year-old Kelly Jo Wright of Ridgway, who is currently an inmate at the Jefferson County Jail. The charges include third-degree felony forgery and first-degree misdemeanor tampering with records or identification.
The criminal complaint reveals that a Jefferson County detective began investigating after monitored jail phone calls and a letter from Wright raised suspicions that she was trying to circumvent a temporary restraining order issued on July 8, 2025. This order froze Wright’s personal property stored at a residence in Reynoldsville.
In multiple recorded jail calls during July, Wright allegedly directed a woman to falsely claim ownership of various items, including a horse, ATV, mower, and gun safe. Wright instructed the woman to tell the homeowner that these items were given to him as payment for a debt.
In one recorded call, Wright reportedly told the woman to “Call [the homeowner] and tell him to call the courthouse and say that I gave him all of the property.” She also stated, “I gave you the horse over a year ago. You remember when I gave you that for the money I owed you,” according to the complaint.
However, the homeowner later informed detectives that Wright never told him she was giving him ownership of the property and that he had only agreed to store her belongings.
Investigators also reported that Wright mailed a letter to the woman, instructing her to pass a fabricated note to the homeowner stating that the items were payment for a debt. The woman handed the letter over to authorities and said she did not want to be involved in Wright’s alleged scheme.
The letter included a statement from Wright acknowledging that the note “was not real” and explaining that her intention was simply to avoid the court seizing her property.
Wright remains in custody at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for September 11 at 11:15 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Gregory M. Bazylak.
