Prosecutor: Woman turns down plea deal in Lincolnshire theft case
A Glenview woman accused of stealing $255,000 from an 89-year-old man rejected a plea deal with Lake County prosecutors Thursday that could have resulted in her avoiding jail time.
Assistant State's Attorney Scott Turk said the plea deal offered to Theresa Lau, 44, of the 0 to 100 block of Park Drive, was pulled off the table after she turned it down in court.
Turk said he could not discuss details of the deal, but Judge Daniel Shanes said it could have resulted in Lau pleading guilty to a charge that resulted in probation.
Now, Turk said, the state is bringing in experts to review financial records and is preparing to go to trial.
Lau pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of financial exploitation of the elderly, theft and money laundering that could send her to prison for four to 15 years.
Lau, who was working as a private nurse, was arrested last May after Lincolnshire Police investigators said she took two payments totaling $255,000 from the elderly man.
The victim's son contacted police after the payments were received at his father's bank. The victim is suffering from the early stages of dementia.
Authorities said Lau was told numerous times by police and her attorneys to return the money that was taken. But, authorities said, Lau split the money and moved it to various bank accounts throughout the United States in an effort to hide it.
She remains free from jail after posting the required 10 percent of her $500,000 bail.
Because of the victim's deteriorating health, prosecutors are pushing for a speedy trial, Turk said. Both sides are due back in court to argue a motion to dismiss charges April 1.