pleaded guilty to bilking elderly woman

Sentencing postponed for Deborah Thompson, who pleaded guilty to bilking elderly woman, because she can't afford restitution


Published: Wednesday, December 07, 2011



BALLSTON SPA — The wife of Milton Supervisor Frank Thompson could face jail time if she does not satisfy the terms of her plea agreement by March, the case’s special prosecutor said Wednesday.

Deborah C. Thompson, 63, in August pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $30,000 from an elderly woman of whom she was the legal guardian over the course of a year and a half. Fulton County District Attorney Louise Sira said Deborah Thompson used the money to finance a gambling addiction and her lifestyle. Frank Thompson has been cleared of any wrongdoing in his wife’s misdeeds.

Deborah Thompson pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted third-degree grand larceny in August to avoid jail time and was supposed to pay $29,259 in restitution to the victim by her sentencing date on Wednesday afternoon. That didn’t happen, however, and Judge Karen Drago issued Deborah Thompson an ultimatum before postponing the sentencing to March 13.

If Deborah Thompson does not pay at least $10,000 in restitution to the victim and have a plan to pay the remainder, pay $2,152 in back taxes and visit a state-licensed psychologist to evaluate her gambling addiction by that date, the plea agreement is off the table.

In addition, Sira said she will seek jail time on the original charge of third-degree grand larceny, a felony that carries a potential sentence of 2-1/3 to 7 years in state prison.

"I’d like to see progress before the court date," Sira said.

Deborah Thompson’s attorney, Fred Ackerman, said he was satisfied with the court’s leniency.

He said his client has lowered the asking price on her 1-1/2 story Thompson Street home three times from $139,000 to $114,900 to come up with the restitution and tax money, but "for whatever reason, it hasn’t sold."

The house’s online listing with Coldwell Banker includes the phrase "a little TLC goes a long way." The property was assessed at $100,200 in 2011, according to Saratoga County records.

Frank and Deborah Thompson were both listed on the house’s deed earlier this year, but county records show the deed was transferred exclusively to Deborah Thompson shortly after her April 2011 arrest. Continued...

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http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/12/07/news/doc4edfc6965b043363641647.txt