Woman admits guilt to welfare fraud; placed on interim probation
NORWICH – On Monday, April 11, Colleen J. English, 51, of South Otselic was in Chenango County Court to possibly change her plea with regard to her accused crime of welfare fraud.
English was present in court with her attorney, John Cameron, while First Assistant District Attorney, Michael D. Ferrarese was in court on behalf of the people of Chenango County.
English stood before Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr., and did indicate that it was her intent to enter a guilty plea to the top charge of welfare fraud in the third degree.
“The understanding is that today my client will plead guilty to welfare fraud in the third degree and be placed on interim probation, with restitution payments due within a year,” said English's attorney John Cameron. “If she pays all of the restitution within the year and abides by the rules of interim probation she will be allowed back to withdraw her felony conviction and enter a plea of guilty to the reduced misdemeanor charge and be sentenced to two additional years of probation.”
Revoir then stated for the record that the total restitution amount owed from English is $6,663, before inquiring with both the prosecution and defense as to what would happen if she is unable to pay the full amount in a calendar year.
“The defendant is a woman in her 50's with no prior criminal history, who received $6,000 plus in aid from the county,” said Ferrarese. “The goal here is to get the restitution fully paid. I don’t see a criminal here.”
Revoir indicated that the agreement was for English to pay as close to the full amount of the restitution within the year, stating again she had no prior criminal record or any recorded alcohol or drug abuse.
After swearing English into the court, Revoir did read the Superior Court Information (SCI), “The first count of the SCI charges you with welfare fraud in the third degree, a class D felony. It alleges that from Jan. 2014 until Jan. 2015 that you while in the City of Norwich failed to notify the Department of Social Services of earned income in the amount of $6,663.36.”
The earned income was allegedly from dog breeding of Bassett Hounds, which English failed to tell DSS she received during that year.
English did enter a plea of guilty at this time.
English was then placed on interim probation until March 10, 2017 when she will appear back in court in hopes of sentencing.
It should be noted that if English fails to repay the majority of the restitution amount she could be sentenced to two and third years to seven years maximum in state prison.
There was no repayment schedule determined by the court, instead Revoir elected to instruct English to report to the probation department following court to determine proper repayment within the coming year.
The written terms of interim probation was signed by English at this time.
English was present in court with her attorney, John Cameron, while First Assistant District Attorney, Michael D. Ferrarese was in court on behalf of the people of Chenango County.
English stood before Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr., and did indicate that it was her intent to enter a guilty plea to the top charge of welfare fraud in the third degree.
“The understanding is that today my client will plead guilty to welfare fraud in the third degree and be placed on interim probation, with restitution payments due within a year,” said English's attorney John Cameron. “If she pays all of the restitution within the year and abides by the rules of interim probation she will be allowed back to withdraw her felony conviction and enter a plea of guilty to the reduced misdemeanor charge and be sentenced to two additional years of probation.”
Revoir then stated for the record that the total restitution amount owed from English is $6,663, before inquiring with both the prosecution and defense as to what would happen if she is unable to pay the full amount in a calendar year.
“The defendant is a woman in her 50's with no prior criminal history, who received $6,000 plus in aid from the county,” said Ferrarese. “The goal here is to get the restitution fully paid. I don’t see a criminal here.”
Revoir indicated that the agreement was for English to pay as close to the full amount of the restitution within the year, stating again she had no prior criminal record or any recorded alcohol or drug abuse.
After swearing English into the court, Revoir did read the Superior Court Information (SCI), “The first count of the SCI charges you with welfare fraud in the third degree, a class D felony. It alleges that from Jan. 2014 until Jan. 2015 that you while in the City of Norwich failed to notify the Department of Social Services of earned income in the amount of $6,663.36.”
The earned income was allegedly from dog breeding of Bassett Hounds, which English failed to tell DSS she received during that year.
English did enter a plea of guilty at this time.
English was then placed on interim probation until March 10, 2017 when she will appear back in court in hopes of sentencing.
It should be noted that if English fails to repay the majority of the restitution amount she could be sentenced to two and third years to seven years maximum in state prison.
There was no repayment schedule determined by the court, instead Revoir elected to instruct English to report to the probation department following court to determine proper repayment within the coming year.
The written terms of interim probation was signed by English at this time.
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