Virginia Woman Loses Chance To "Buy Down" Felony Conviction By Failing To Return Entire Ripoff Proceeds To Elderly Victim

In Spotsylvania County, Virginia, The Free Lance Star reports:

• A woman who stole more than $188,000 from an elderly Spotsylvania County woman officially became a felon yesterday. Jerriett A. Bennett, 56, has repaid $143,000, Commonwealth's Attorney Bill Neely said, but so far has been unable to come up with the rest of the money.

• Bennett entered a conditional guilty plea last year in which her embezzlement conviction was deferred in order to give her a chance to repay the money. According to the agreement, if she repaid the whole amount, she would have been convicted of a misdemeanor and gotten a suspended 12-month jail sentence. If not, she'd get the felony conviction and a suspended five-year prison term. Neely said Bennett still has to repay the rest of the money or face the possibility of serving prison time.

• According to the evidence, Bennett stole the money from Maude Scott, a longtime county resident, between October 2007 and April 2008. [...] On Oct. 19, 2007, Scott signed a [] power of attorney giving Bennett control of her affairs. [...] Court records show that Bennett proceeded to cash large annuities belonging to Scott. The money was supposed to provide for Scott's care, and Scott told police she never gave permission for Bennett to spend it.(1)

For the story, see Spotsylvania woman declared a felon in embezzlement case (Woman formally convicted in $188,000 heist; gets suspended sentence).

(1) Reportedly, Bennett's attorney, Claire Caldwell, tried to have Scott declared unfit to testify because of her mental slippage. Neely acknowledged he would have had no case against Bennett had the effort succeeded. But Judge David Beck ruled that Scott could testify and said it would be up to the jury to determine her credibility.