Former Adams County Board member John Hibbert of Paloma was sentenced to 24 months probation Monday morning by Judge Michael Roseberry. Hibbert was found guilty in October of theft of more than $10,000 and exploitation of an elderly person, both Class 2 felonies.
"I just don't see this as a case where a Department of Corrections sentence is appropriate," Roseberry said. "I don't believe society or yourself are served by a Department of Corrections sentence."
Roseberry also said he believed letting Hibbert off without jail time would have no effect if someone else decided to attempt the same crime as Hibbert performed.
Hibbert, 67, transferred more than $200,000 from 93-year-old Eleanor Lutes' bank accounts to accounts of belonging to other family members and himself after getting Lutes to sign a Power of Attorney. Lutes testified in October that she had no intention of signing all of her assets over to Hibbert when she signed the Power of Attorney.
The money was returned to Lutes' accounts and Hibbert will have to pay her $1,130 to reimburse the cost of the early withdrawl penalty she suffered. Hibbert will also have to pay $2,500 in court costs and $25 a month as long as he is on probation.
Following his sentence, Hibbert told the court "I apologize for any inconvienence. I have learned a lesson: I will have no dealings with powers of attorney."
If Hibbert sucessfully completes 12 months of probation and performs 100 hours of community service, the second year of probation will be dropped.
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Hibbert Gets 24 Months Probation
8 comments:
Oh judge Michael Roseberry, you just don't get it, do you?
Not only the victim, but the public would have been served if Hibbert would have been given time becuase a sentence to prison would have sent a strong message that you do't put up with exploitation of the elderly.
Instead, you've practically encouraged it.
Judge Michael Roseberry said:
"he believed letting Hibbert off without jail time would have no effect if someone else decided to attempt the same crime as Hibbert performed."
W H A T ?
Probation is not a punishment, prison is a punishment that most people want to avoid and that is the first place I would send this crook TO PRISON!
Illinois Land of Lincoln ho ho ho, Lincoln is throwing up in his grave.
Roseberry needs to shed her judicial costume and leave the bench for a person with an IQ over 50 poste haste because Roseberry just gave more crooks a good reason to steal = CRIME DOES PAY.
hey this is the illinois way chicago crook county other crooked counties so whats the difference this judge is wrong wrong dead wrong he needs to get another line of work now to think we are paying his salary and retirement imagine that we pay these people to be kind and merciful to crooks especially the cowards the low lifies who prey on the elderly i cannot say anymore cause it will be ugly and nasty to fit this news item
What a deal -- for Hibbert!
Perhaps Judge Roseberry would have thought more of the case if his own Mother was a victim.
This makes me sick. What an insult to the vulnerable and elderly.
Citizens of Paloma, you know what to do now -- vote Judge Michael Roseberry out of office.
And they wonder why there's no respect for the "justice" system?
shame on you, judge.
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