VALPARAISO | A Portage woman and her two adult sons were ordered Tuesday to pay back $77,876 they admitted to stealing from a disabled family member.
"Just disgusting you would steal from a disabled man so you would have a good life," Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper said to the mother, Patricia Vottero.
Harper voiced disgust to all three as she accepted their pleas of guilty to felony theft in return for prosecutors dropping more serious counts of forgery and the trio agreeing to pay back the stolen money.
Patricia Vottero, 57, was sentenced along with sons, Anthony Vottero, 33, and Kyle Vottero, 27, to nearly three years of formal probation and no further jail time. Anthony Vottero, an injured veteran, is already taking part in the county's veterans treatment court as a result of an earlier criminal case.
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The thefts occurred between August 2005 and February 2012, according to court documents.
Another family member, who serves as guardian of the victim, told each of the defendants that while they were spending the stolen retirement money on vehicles, drugs and personal items, the victim was doing without necessities such as medical care, glasses and a reliable car.
"You let him down," the guardian said. "Shame on you."
All three apologized to the victim, but the guardian said he felt they showed no remorse.
Defense attorney John Vouga said the family attempted to work out the issue before it rose to criminal charges, but were unable to agree on how much money was taken or to a repayment plan.
While various levels of loss were mentioned during Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Harper said she was bound by the plea agreements to the $77,876 figure.
Each of the defendants said they would be able to heed the order of making equal monthly payments over the course of their probation.
Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek said the group was to begin the repayment Tuesday by submitting a check for $7,700 and $12,000 in bond money.