Caregiver pleads guilty in theft from woman

AUGUSTA – A Randolph woman must spend six months in jail for stealing money from an 88-year-old woman for whom she provided care, a Superior Court justice ordered.

Crystal Burns on Tuesday pleaded guilty to charges of theft and misuse of entrusted property. She had power of attorney for Hannah Levine between June 1995 and July 1998.

While Burns was in charge of Levine’s money, the woman’s assets dwindled from $350,000 to $12,000, according to the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Prosecutors said that after Levine was moved to a nursing home in May 1998, Burns charged Levine’s credit card for $18,000 worth of purchases that included an outboard motor, a glider chair, fencing for Burns’ home, clothing and tools.

Superior Court Justice Donald Marden ordered Burns to pay restitution and to serve four years of probation in addition to her sentence.