WICHITA – A Kansas woman who pleaded guilty to stealing from an 88-year-old man was sentenced Thursday for one count of felony theft in Sedgwick County District Court.
According to investigators, Laurie Nowlin, 60, Wichita, committed the crime after befriending the victim and becoming one of his primary caretakers.
Nowlin, who had no prior felonies on her record, was placed on 24 months probation, the presumption under Kansas law. As a condition of her plea, she was ordered to pay $60,900 in restitution to the victim’s family.
Judge Eric Williams told Nowlin she would serve 13 months in prison if she violated her probation.
The charge alleges that Nowlin received multiple checks and cash withdrawals from the victim during a time that the victim likely lacked capacity due to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Those checks were then deposited into Nowlin’s bank account where she transferred the money via Facebook and used the funds to take multiple trips.
During the same timeframe, the victim also designated Nowlin as power of attorney and beneficiary on nearly all of his assets, removing his adult children from those designations.
Family members who spoke at the sentencing said Nowlin’s actions took a toll on their family and damaged their relationship with the victim.
Nowlin stated during the sentencing hearing that she should not have accepted the pay from the victim but she loved him and he wanted her to have it. The victim has since passed away.
Nowlin’s probation may be extended to ensure that she pays restitution. Judge Williams also ordered Nowlin to not serve as a fiduciary for anyone else during the course of her probation.