Former beauty queen faces additional charges

A former beauty queen accused of faking cancer and pocketing fundraising money to support allegedly concocted medical bills returned to court Tuesday to face additional felony charges.

Brandi Weaver-Gates, 23, of Pleasant Gap, faces three additional felony counts of theft by deception and three felony counts of receiving stolen property.

Authorities contend Weaver-Gates deceived at least 165 people by telling them she had cancer. Weaver-Gates is accused of pocketing the money she raised, which is estimated to be close to $30,000, over a two-year period.

Weaver-Gates held at least three separate fundraisers between August 2013 and June, including a Bingo for Brandi fundraiser in April that raised more than $14,000. A fundraiser held between August and September 2013 raised $8,793.75. Weaver-Gates held another fundraiser in October 2013, raising $4,344.25. The accused also held a fundraiser between May and June, which raised $2,586.50.

Weaver-Gates was initially arrested in August on charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

“Although Brandi’s incarcerated, she feels free,” Deb Lux, Weaver-Gates’ public defender, said. “She’s liberated from the lies she’s been living. She’s truly sorry. She asks for forgiveness, although she understands many won’t find it in their hearts to do so.”

People who had donated to Weaver-Gates began contacting state police after charges were formally filed. Investigators contended that more people would come forward since August, and they have.

“I’m going to ask her to pursue mental health evaluation, not to pursue a mental infirmity defense, but hopefully to get insight for the court and the community as to why this happened,” Lux said.

Weaver-Gates was arraigned by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker on Tuesday. She is awaiting her preliminary hearing set for Dec. 2 at the Centre County Courthouse. Weaver-Gates has not posted bail, which was set at $150,000.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Former beauty queen faces additional charges."