Quincy Woman Gets Probation and Ordered to Pay $32K Restitution

A Quincy woman found guilty of financially exploiting her stepmother was ordered Monday to pay $32,266 in restitution and serve four years probation.

Barbara Chenoweth, 67, was indicted in 2009 of felony exploitation of an elderly person after investigators said she wrote checks from her stepmother's bank account after selling the woman's house. Her stepmother lives in an area nursing home, and Chenoweth had financial power of attorney when the checks were written, investigators said.

Chenoweth was found guilty a year ago by Judge William Mays after a bench trial. She was eligible for up to 15 years in prison, but Assistant State's Attorney Anita Rodriguez asked for probation, saying the issues were restitution and Chenoweth's medical issues.

Public Defender Todd Nelson said Chenoweth, who wore a neck brace in court, is scheduled to have major back surgery soon.

"The goal is to restore the victim as much as possible and to make her whole," Rodriguez said. "But the difficulty in this case is that no matter what we do, there's no way to make the victim whole."

Mays stayed 180 days of jail time for Chenoweth, who was accused of draining her stepmother's account.

"I don't think you went into it to take the money," the judge said to Chenoweth. "It was an opportunity that presented itself to you, and you used that opportunity."

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Quincy Woman, 67, Gets Probation for Financially Exploiting Stepmother