MARION COUNTY — A 19-year-old Salem man has been charged with theft by deception of less than $500 after he allegedly took money to bond a person out of jail, but failed to do so.

According to Salem police, Alexander Russell took $90 from a man for the purpose of bonding another person out of the Marion County Jail. Russell allegedly text messaged the alleged victim claiming to be at the jail and filling out paperwork to bond the other person out.

Police were able to confirm that no one had been in to bond out the person in question. Russell was then arrested on the theft charge.