Monday, November 17, 2008

Woman Escapes Three Felonies on Plea Deal

This strikes me as extremely lenient. 

A woman accused of helping her religious leader hide a decaying corpse on her toilet so they could continue collecting her Social Security was convicted of a misdemeanor in a deal for her to testify against the leader, a prosecutor said Monday.

Tammy Lewis, 36, of Necedah, pleaded no contest to obstructing a police officer and fined $350 in a plea bargain that defers prosecution of more serious charges. Juneau County Circuit John Roemer ordered her to pay the fine within 60 days or serve a seven-day jail sentence.

Lewis and Alan Bushey, 58, were accused of hiding 90-year-old Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth’s body on a toilet in Lewis’ home after she died in March. Investigators said Middlesworth and Lewis were members of a religious sect Bushey led called the Order of the Divine Will.

[...]

She also told authorities she was Middlesworth’s power of attorney, and the older woman used all of her money to support their six-member religious group. Investigators believe Middlesworth’s Social Security and annuity checks totaling nearly $3,000 were deposited after her death into a bank account she shared with Lewis.

As part of Lewis’ plea deal, five other charges, including three felony counts of hiding a corpse and causing mental harm to a child, will be dismissed in two years if she cooperates with prosecutors and follows other court orders involving her children, District Attorney Scott Southworth said.

(2) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2130 hrs
Law + Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Must’ve really needed her testimony to get the others.

    Posted by prosqtor on November 17, 2008 at 2334 hrs


  2. Now that I re-read that, she was convicted of the misdemeanor, and received a deferred prosecution agreement on the felonies.  She’s still exposed to felony convictions if she violates the terms of the agreement, which likely included treatment deemed necessary by someone, and continues to offer truthful testimony as needed by the State in prosecuting the other person(s).

    No follow through or cooperation => insta-felony.

    Posted by prosqtor on November 17, 2008 at 2336 hrs


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