Ex-caretaker jailed for stealing

A woman hired to provide nursing care to an elderly Lake in the Hills man instead helped herself to about $9,000 from his bank account.

And now she faces four months in the McHenry County jail Friday after pleading guilty to a pair of felony charges.

Tara A. Schlegel, 20, of Crystal Lake, admitted guilt to financial exploitation of an elderly person and forgery stemming from 2006 allegations she wrote herself multiple checks from the 90-year-old victim's bank account.

Under a plea deal struck with McHenry County prosecutors, Schlegel must serve four months, pay $9,000 restitution to the man and spend the next two years on probation.

"It was a fair disposition given the defendant's lack of criminal history, her age and the fact that she will be making restitution to the victim," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Mary Baccam said.

Lake in the Hills police arrested Schlegel in January 2006 when she attempted to cash a fourth check from the victim. A bank official, suspicious of recent activity on the man's account, tipped off police.