Man who Stole from Senile Newport Beach Widow Gets 7 Years

A man who stole about $280,000 from a senile, blind and deaf 98-year-old Newport Beach widow to buy a sex swing and an engagement ring, among other things, pleaded guilty today and was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison.

John Thomas Windsor, 44, of Costa Mesa has credit for about four and a half years in custody, leaving him 15 or 16 months behind bars, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche.

"It's vile and reprehensible that anyone would steal from someone in that condition, who was completely unaware of her surroundings," Labreche said.

Windsor was ordered to pay $296,000 in restitution and fined about $592,000.

He resolved his case just a day before jury selection for his trial, Labreche said.

Windsor's mother worked as a live-in caretaker for the victim and, in 2007, Windsor moved into the woman's home without her knowing it, Labreche said. Windsor was on parole at the time in Vermont for a domestic violence conviction and violating a restraining order, Labreche said.

Windsor drained the woman's bank accounts and used her credit card to make more than $280,000 in purchased between August 2007 and December 2008. Among the items he bought were used cars, an engagement ring from Tiffany & Co., a collection of classic records and sex swing, Labreche said.

Windsor persuaded the woman to sign over her power of attorney to him, even though she did not have the mental capacity to do that, Labreche said.

Windsor was caught when he tried to make changes in the trust that owned the woman's home and take out a loan on the paid-off dwelling. Bank officers notified authorities about the suspicious activity, Labreche said.     

The victim in May 2009 from respiratory failure, pneumonia and senile dementia, Labreche said.

If Windsor had been convicted at trial, he would have faced up to 11 years and eight months in prison.

Windsor pleaded guilty to a count each of first-degree residential burglary, caretaker theft from an elder, fraudulently using a credit card, and three counts of forgery, all felonies. He also admitted sentencing enhancements for causing more than $100,000 in loss, aggravated white collar crime with more than $100,000 in losses and property loss more than $200,000.

--City News Service