Former Yorkville educate Board mem...

Former Yorkville educate Board member Janet Reaves began a six- month prison judgment Tuesday for stealing more than $113000 from her parents.

As she was l revealed of the Kendall County courtroom, Reaves twice bended her head and glared at her 100-year-old father, Wendell Cummings.

'DISHONEST AND SNEAKY'

Reaves, 71 also was ordered to pay restitution to her father and oblige four years of probation by means of Kendall County Judge James Wilson, who said he notion Reaves would be a "horrible probationer," and he would have issued a longer prison word if not for her attorney's skills.

"Your behavior has been deceitful, dishonest and sneaky," he told Reaves. "This is circulating medium your father had worked for his entire life."

Reaves, who declined to make a statement during her sentencing hearing, was convicted in March of crime financial exploitation of the somewhat old According to court documents, she took coin between January and September 2003 from a trust created by way of her parents, Wendell and Elizabeth Cummings. The trust was created to support their health and living costs and Reaves had power of attorney through the trust at the time.

Her attorney, Fr Morelli, said he anticipateed Reaves to appeal the decision.

'Chose to ruin her reputation'

"I don't think the case was proven beyond a reasonable doubt," Morelli said, pointing to a literal sense stating that the money was a gift to help Reaves purchase a abode in Monticello, Fla. Prosecutors said Reaves had forged her father's signature forward the letter, but a handwriting [i]connoisseur[/i] could not definitively determine whether the signature was genuine or had been traced.

"As far as I know, Janet has always been a consummate lady, and I am not aware of any previous accusations of wrongdoings," Morelli said.

Wendell Cummings, who attended the hearing Tuesday with his other daughter, Maxine Cummings, and grandson Robert Lay, said he fancy the judge was fair however he wanted to see Reaves imprisoned for four years.

"She had for a like reason many chances to work things revealed in an easier manner," he said. "She could have preserv family relations, on the contrary she chose to ruin her allow reputation and hurt everyone else's, too."

Wendell Cummings lives in a local assisted-living facility, while his wife, Elizabeth, receives more intensive care in a separate facility.

"They're with equal reason rapidly running out of money" Maxine Cummings said. "And to have a daughter that he trusted just steal it, it's thus underhanded."

Reaves will also be exposed to counseling during her probation period and betray her Florida house as part of the restitution she must pay her father. She was ordered to pay $103000 after receiving a $10000 credit for wealth she already paid.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided on ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved