NORWICH – A young woman pleaded guilty Monday to stealing more than $50,000 worth of antique and gold coins to feed her heroin addiction and was told by the judge that she needed to stay away from her boyfriend.
Between Feb. 12 and May 20, 2009, 24-year-old Meghan L. Matthews of Unadilla sold $50,534 worth of collector’s coins to a Norwich coin dealer after stealing them from her boyfriend’s parents.
Matthews pleaded guilty to second degree criminal possession of stolen property and was sentenced to six months in jail, five years probation, must repay about $42,334 in restitution and will be admitted in to Chenango County Drug Treatment Court. The court ordered payments of at least $100 a month until the debt is paid, meaning it will take her more than 35 years to pay the amount if she makes the minimum monthly deposit.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said Matthews had already served her time in jail after she was originally released by the court and tested positive for continued drug use on more than one occasion.
“She’s spent the last 30 days in jail judge, since the last time you let her out and she tested positive for heroin, I believe,” McBride told the court.
McBride said Matthews received nearly what the coins were estimated to be worth when she sold them, and that she admitted to buying tens of thousands of dollars in drugs with the money.
“She got paid more than $50,000 and spent it on drugs,” he said.
“I’m sorry it all happened. I regret it. I would change it if I could,” Matthews said to the court.
She apologized to the victim and the court before thanking County Court Judge Sullivan for the chance to get her life back together in treatment court.
“That’s good, but tell me about this boyfriend,” asked Sullivan.
On Jan. 22, Matthews appeared in court prior to her sentencing with her boyfriend accompanying her in the courtroom. During the proceeding, the judge told her she should leave him if she hoped to recover from her addition.
“People, places, things need to change and he’s a big part of the problem,” Sullivan told Matthews.
At the January appearance, Matthews’ boyfriend spoke out in objection to the comment, which prompted the judge to have a brief conversation with him.
“If we tested you today, would you test clean?” asked Sullivan after being interrupted. The young man responded by saying, “Test clean? Depends for what.”
The man then said he was seeking treatment for his addiction problems and admitted to still using “some” substances. After a few moments of confusing communication between the judge and Matthews’ boyfriend, Sullivan declared, “You come here into court stoned and tell us you’re good for her recovery? I don’t think so.”
Sullivan pointed out the man’s slurred speech, inability to answer questions and watery eyes as indicators he was under the influence of a drug.
The boyfriend did not accompany Matthews for Monday’s sentencing, but Sullivan reiterated his point.
“He’s no good for you if he’s using. If he’s using, you’ll use, and if you get caught using, you’ll be going to prison for up to seven years. I can’t make it more plain than that,” he said.
Matthews promised to change, but said she was still trying to work things out with her boyfriend.
“Heroin is going to be a problem for the local community,” said McBride. “People seem to return to using the substance even right after they get done serving a jail sentence.”
While participating in treatment court, Matthews will be required to fulfill general obligations that include random drug tests, a required weekly court appearance, mandated attendance at treatment programs outside of court and more. If she is expelled from the program, she faces up to seven years in state prison, said McBride.