Woman impersonates deputy and springs boyfriend from Washington County jail

Maxine Feldstein (left) and Nicholas Lowe
Maxine Feldstein (left) and Nicholas Lowe

FAYETTEVILLE — Deputies arrested a Fayetteville couple after the girlfriend posed as a deputy from California and got her boyfriend out of the Washington County jail in July.

Maxine Feldstein, 30, was arrested Aug. 17 in connection with forgery, accomplice to escape and criminal impersonation. Her 23-year-old boyfriend Nicholas Lowe was arrested in connection with escape, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Both had been arrested July 14 and taken to the Washington County Detention Center. Feldstein was arrested in connection with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and bonded out the next day. Lowe had a hold from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in California for false impersonation.

Feldstein called the jail July 27 and identified herself as “Deputy Kershaw with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.” She told the deputy on duty she had sent a fax to release their hold on Lowe.

The deputy said he had not received the fax and gave his email address, to which Feldstein sent an “authentic looking form” releasing Ventura County’s hold, according to the affidavit.

A deputy from Ventura County called two days later saying he was on the way to pick up Lowe, but Lowe already had been released.

Washington County deputies reviewed video of a jail visit and saw Lowe tell Feldstein to pose as a Ventura County deputy and what to say, according to the affidavit.

Kelly Cantrell, spokeswoman for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, said they are considering the best way to make sure this does not happen again.

“There is a procedure to ensure requests are legitimate, and that hasn’t changed,” Cantrell said.

Feldstein and Lowe were being held Tuesday at the Washington County Detention Center on bonds of $16,500 and $15,000, respectively.

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