A Tiverton woman faces charges of exploitation of an elder, and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, after an investigation into alleged abuse by the Little Compton Police Department.

Nicole M. Piker, 43, of 107 Haskins Ave., Tiverton, turned herself in to Little Compton police Thursday after the department issued a warrant for her arrest. She was arraigned by a justice of the peace and will appear in Newport County District Court at a later date.

According to Little Compton Police Chief Scott Raynes, the investigation began when an in-home caregiver service contacted police with concerns over two separate, unauthorized uses of a credit card discovered by an 86-year-old client. On June 27, two separate $200 payments were made from the woman's credit card to a Paypal account. Raynes said they were not authorized by the woman or her power of attorney/health care proxy.

Police obtained search warrants for the Paypal account's data. Coupled with inquires into IP addresses used to make the transactions, police identified Hawkins as a subject. They later confirmed that she was employed by the healthcare service and was a care provider for the exploited woman.

Raynes urged anyone who has elderly relatives and friends who employed Piker in the past to reach out to them. Contact the chief at 635-2311, or via e-mail at sraynes@tlcri.com.