CLEMSON — A Clemson City Councilwoman is accused of claiming her daughter had cancer, and reversing the mortgage on her mother’s home, in an effort to raise money for her daughter’s legal fees.

Elouise James, 66, of 96 Cardinal Drive, Clemson, faces charges in both Greenville and Pickens counties. James was first elected to Clemson City Council in 1996.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is charging James with two counts of forgery and once count of obstructing justice.

Investigators accuse James of faxing a forged Cancer Centers of the Carolinas Physicians Order to the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office on May 11, 2009, according to Greenville County Sheriff’s Office warrants.

“This was done in order to try and get her daughter, Kirstyn James, excused from a court hearing,” the warrant states. “The Physicians Orders claimed that Kirstyn James had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

“Through investigation, it was determined that Kirstyn James never had cancer (and) was never a patient at the Cancer Centers of the Carolinas,” the warrant continues.

In Pickens County, James is charged with two counts of obtaining goods by false pretenses and one charge of exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

According to a Pickens County Sheriff’s Office warrant, James did “improperly and unlawfully use the power of attorney of a vulnerable adult for the profit or advantage of Kirstyn James.”

James allegedly used her power of attorney to reverse the mortgage on her 90-year-old mother’s home, warrants state.

“The defendant used $15,451.60 from the mortgage to pay the remaining restitution balance for her daughter’s probation,” the warrants allege.

James is also charged with obtaining money “with the intent to cheat and defraud,” warrants state.

James allegedly “solicited money from the victim to aid in the treatment of Kirstyn James, her daughter, who purportedly suffered from cancer,” warrants state.

The charges result from a joint investigation between the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the State Law Enforcement Division over the last several months.

James was booked in both Greenville and Pickens counties and released on personal recognizance bonds.