Caretaker charged with theft from elderly DuPage County woman

An 89-year-old Westmont woman’s longtime caretaker has been charged with stealing more than $45,000 from her, prosecutors said Friday.

William J. Sullivan, 59, of the 500 block of North Ardmore Avenue in Villa Park, was charged with theft over $10,000 and financial exploitation of a person over 80.

Authorities said Sullivan became the woman’s in-home caretaker in 2006. Between June 2011 and October 2012, they said, he wrote unauthorized checks to himself from her account and made withdrawals from her savings.

The woman’s nephew had power of attorney over her affairs and uncovered the theft while reviewing bank records, according to prosecutors.

“The accusations against Mr. Sullivan are just disgraceful and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said.

Judge Robert Douglas issued a warrant for Sullivan’s arrest in March, and the defendant surrendered Wednesday. He was being held on $150,000 bail Friday and is set to appear May 20 in front of Judge John Kinsella.

Prosecutors said the most serious charge against Sullivan is Class 1 felony offense typically punishable by up to 15 years in prison.