Probation, community service for Carpentersville elder theft
A Cary woman who pleaded guilty to financially exploiting an 86-year-old Carpentersville woman was sentenced to three years probation, assigned 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution.
Authorities said Lalaine Regencia, 46, of the 300 block of Margaret Terrace, of illegally using the credit card of the woman, for whom she served as caretaker, to rack up bills over a six-month period.
Regencia was arrested in February and accused of financial exploitation of an elderly person, felony theft and using a forged credit card in December 2013, according to police and court records.
In a plea agreement approved Thursday by Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles, prosecutors dismissed other, less serious felonies in exchange for a guilty plea to financial exploitation, according to Kane County court records.
"Ms. Regencia feels terrible about the whole situation and take full responsibility. She will make her restitution payments to the bank as ordered," said her defense attorney Robert Deters, who declined further comment.
Regencia also must pay $3,080 in probation fees, fines and court costs, according to court records.
If Regencia violates her probation, she could be resentenced to up to seven years in prison.
She had no previous arrests or criminal record.
Regencia is due back in court on April 28, 2015, for a review of her community service hours.