Former Shelter Island Justice and Husband Get Probation in Theft Case
Katharine and Wayne Pope will not serve jail time nor do they have to pay back the $1 million they were charged with stealing from an elderly woman.
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After pleading in an embezzlement case Katherine Pope, who served as Shelter Island justice from 1998 to 2002, and her husband, Wayne, both got probation on Jan. 10, according to a report on The Suffolk Times.
On Nov. 15, Katherine Pope pleaded guilty to fourth-degree identity theft, a misdemeanor, and her husband, Wayne Pope, pleaded guilty to fourth degree grand larceny, a felony, for stealing more than a million dollars from an 89-year-old Water Mill woman suffering from dementia.
The Popes stole the money from the victim, Mary Abbot Estabrook, over a period of four years, according to the district attorney's office. Mr. Pope had worked as a handyman for Estabrook and had allegedly obtained power of attorney from her, then used that power to write checks to benefit himself.
Husband and wife will each serve a sentence of five years probation, and they are not required to pay back any money to the estate of Estabrook.
Estabrook died on July 4, 2009 at the age of 89.
highhatsize
9:31 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
Judging by the plea, they probably could have held out and had the charges dropped. The prosecution must have had virtually no case.
Bridget DeCandido
7:29 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Stealing is a crime. That it goes unpunished is a disgrace. That the victim was an elderly person who foolishly placed her trust in this individual is heartbreaking. Now they can find another oldster in need of assistance and do it all over again.
Gigi Gibbons
7:41 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Where is the "equal justice for ALL"???
amos meringer
7:53 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
They stole a million dollars and didn't go to jail? Disgusting.
Alan J Stolz
8:08 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
How can this be? I think the prosecutor, judge and lawyers should be put under investigation. Either we're not being told the whole story or something unsavory is going on. This is America. You don't embezzle $1,000,000. and get probation. Southampton Patch should not let go of this story. Get an explanation as to WHY they get only probation and WHY the money wasn't paid back to the estate?
We need answers, not half a story. We need JUSTICE. They MUST go to jail. People should be OUTRAGED AT THIS AND FOLLOW UP.
Juss Bean Honest
8:17 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Either this story needs to be re-written with a few missing and important facts, or the story IS about how an disgusting, enormous crime manages to go unpunished.
BOB PALADIN
8:18 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
sounds like a case for MONK
Celia Marszal Iannelli
8:27 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wow! Pleaded guilty on embezzlement charges; No pay back, no jail term.....and no justice....
tim
8:42 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I realize the woman died, but stealing a million dollars, no jail and don't have to pay anyone back? Crime pays.
davis gaffga
8:50 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
This is lazy and incompetent journalism.
Bill Edwards
9:00 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
What about federal prosecution for tax evasion? I can't imagine they reported te stolen funds as ordinary income.
Jaguar-Guy
9:07 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
WHAT SCUM-BAGS !!!! I hope they BURN in Hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pat gomez
3:22 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Boy oh boy! Attention all crooks, Shelter Island is the place to be. Steal a bundle and walk away. What a disgrace !
Vinette Olinkiewicz
10:19 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
They left Shelter Island before they did this. They were always very strange people. Shelter Island has nothing to do with these two disgusting crooks.
Celia Alfano
10:23 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
So sad, what about her families inhertance? If she had no family, what a shame there is no to stand up and support her. No wonder our youth are turning out the way they when the examples of justice are so poor and unfair.
oh yeah
2:18 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Ahhh, so crime DOES pay, and rather well too. I hope the loss of the victim's money didn't aid in her death.