A Slippery Rock woman faces a hearing next week on charges she illegally obtained $2,717 in public assistance benefits.

The Pennsylvania Inspector General’s office on Jan. 31 charged Crystal L. Grubbs, 36, with misdemeanor welfare fraud.

Between Sept. 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, she is accused of fraudulently collecting $2,018 from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and $699 from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

Authorities said she was not entitled to the assistance because at the time she was employed and receiving wages.

The maximum penalty for a conviction on the first-degree misdemeanor count is five years in prison and a fine of $10,000, plus a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program that was defrauded.

Grubbs’ preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 26 at the office of District Judge William Fullerton.