A court conference was held last week in the case of a former Rockland lawyer, accused of stealing nearly $1.2 million from three elderly, incapacitated people.
The conference between representatives of the Maine Attorney General’s Office, defense and court was held June 17 in the case of Anita M. Volpe, 75, of Tenants Harbor.
No further hearings are scheduled yet.
Volpe was indicted in March 2019 on three counts of felony theft, two counts of Class B misuse of entrusted property and one count of Class C misuse of entrusted property. In October 2019, the AG’s Office filed paperwork court, saying it would seek a seven-year prison sentence if Volpe was convicted of the charges.
Volpe pleaded not guilty at her April 2019 arraignment.
The case, like most in the court system, has been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed by the court. There have not been any jury trials held in Knox County yet, since March 2020 when the pandemic restrictions were imposed.
Volpe is free on bail with the condition that she not be a trustee, personal representative or handle finances for anyone until the case is concluded.
The memorandum filed in court Oct. 7, 2019 by Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin alleges that Volpe stole $553,225 from Mary Webb; $490,416 from Patricia Wakefield; and more than $100,000 from Corine Hendrick. The state is proposing that Volpe pay restitution of those amounts to Webb and Wakefield’s estates.
Volpe served as the power of attorney for the three women.
According to the state, Volpe stole from Webb and Wakefield to repay the estate of Hendrick, who was her mother-in-law.
The longtime local lawyer is alleged to have used the stolen money to pay personal credit card debt and to purchases real estate, according to the state’s memo to the court. The real estate included a parcel abutting her home in St. George.
Volpe also used some of the money to repair her Main Street law office in Rockland, according to the state. She also is alleged to have used the money to repair her home.
Volpe also traded in a car owned by Wakefield to help pay for a pick-up truck, the state alleges.
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