Probation for woman who stole $250G from her mother

by Alex Rose

Bernadette Branson-Lawler

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Springfield woman was given five years of probation and ordered to pay more than $250,000 to the estate of her mother after pleading guilty Tuesday to a theft charge.

Bernadette Branson-Lawler, 55, of the first block of Meetinghouse Lane, was originally reported to have stolen $337,715 from her 78-year-old mother over a period of nearly seven years, according to a release from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office issued Jan. 28, 2019.

Assistant District Attorney Erica Parham told  Common Pleas Court Judge Margaret Amoroso Wednesday that Branson-Lawler had repaid $208,134 of the total $253,285 restitution amount being sought.

She will continue making payments of $500 per month over the next five years to satisfy the remaining $45,151 under the negotiated guilty plea worked out by Parham and defense attorney Matthew Sedacca. Neither Branson-Lawler nor her attorney said anything prior to the sentence being handed down.

Detective Sgt. Anthony Ruggieri of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division Senior Exploitation launched an investigation in September 2017 after law enforcement received information about the possible financial exploitation of a 78-year woman, according to the release. The victim, who is non-verbal and predeceased by her husband in August 2009, was residing in a secure unit of an assisted living facility for individuals with dementia, the release states.

Following the death of her husband, the victim appointed her daughter, Branson-Lawler, as her power of attorney. Branson-Lawler remained an agent for the victim until July 2013, when she petitioned the Orphan's Court of Delaware County to become guardian for her mother due to her diminished mental capacity and other health related issues, the release says. Branson-Lawler was appointed plenary guardian by the court until she was removed by the Orphan's Court in October 2017 and replaced by a court-appointed attorney.

Brandon-Lawler sold her mother’s house in Springfield for $269,000 in January 2013, then moved her mother to an assisted living facility, according to the release. In July 2017, Branson-Lawler failed to file the annual guardian's inventory and the annual reports of the person and the estate, as required by the Delaware County Orphan’s Court.

After failing to submit the required guardian paperwork and not appearing for court, a court-appointed attorney reviewed all of the victim’s financial records and discovered suspicious withdrawals made by Brandon-Lawler.

When questioned, Branson-Lawler admitted that she withdrew money from her mother’s accounts for personal expenses, such as her interior design business, her electric and insurance bills and gym membership. She also indicated she wrote herself checks, according to the release.

An investigation ensued and Branson-Lawler was ultimately charged with 21 counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and false impression, and receiving stolen property, all second-degree felony offenses. The remaining counts were dropped under the plea deal.

Parham indicated that the commonwealth would not object to termination of the probationary sentence early if Branson-Lawler completed making restitution payments early.

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Probation for woman who stole $250G from her mother