A caretaker has been sentenced in the theft of $70,000 in jewelry from a frail 80-year-old resident of The Villages.
Ryan Hope Thompson, 41, of Ocala, had been arrested in August on felony charges of grand theft from a person over the age of 65 and exploitation of the elderly.
Thompson had been hired to care for the woman in the Village of Summerhill. The woman “has medical conditions which make it hard to walk without a cane; she falls often and requires assistance to complete day to day tasks,” a Sumter County sheriff’s deputy wrote in the arrest report.
The Villager reported on July 7 the theft of a ring and a bracelet valued at $50,000. She later reported the theft of another ring and earrings valued at $20,000. The woman said Thompson was the only person who had access to the jewelry.
The deputy obtained pawn receipts, indicating Thompson had pawned the jewelry.
At the time of her arrest, Thompson told deputies she needed the money to pay her bills.
Last week in Sumter County Court, Thompson pleaded no contest to the charge of grand theft from a person over the age of 65. The exploitation of the elderly charge was dropped in exchange for her plea.
Thompson has been sentenced to three years probation and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.