Woman appears in court after landing on state’s most-wanted list for insurance fraud

A Spokane woman appeared in court Thursday after landing on the state’s most-wanted list for insurance fraud suspects.

Kathy Oberst was released from custody by Judge Shelly Szambelan in Spokane County Superior Court. She faces charges for first-degree theft, filing a false insurance claim and making a false claim with a public servant.

In 2015, Oberst allegedly purchased an insurance policy on a vehicle less than two weeks after she was involved in a collision, then reported it stolen a week later, according to a news release form the Washington Insurance Commissioner. Oberst had allegedly lied and said the car was not damaged before she reported it stolen, according to the news release.

The state Office of the Insurance Commissioner regularly updates its most-wanted list with the names, mugshots and charges of suspects who have failed to appear to answer to charges of criminal insurance fraud and theft.