BALLSTON SPA – A Saratoga County woman pleaded guilty for stealing almost $329,000 from an 82-year-old Wilton resident for whom she worked as a home health aide. Michele Rose, 49, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the second degree a felony, the highest count in the indictment, in satisfaction of the remaining counts. 

“Defendant’s theft went on for at least five years as Rose, who was entrusted to do her employer’s banking and open her mail, obtained personal identification numbers and systematically depleted her life savings”, Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy, III said.  “The victim is blind which made the crime even more despicable.” 

The elderly victim was left alone in 2005 when her husband passed away.  Her adult children trusted Rose to care for their mother on a part-time basis. 

The defendant will be ordered to pay restitution and will waive her right to appeal. 
               
The judge accepted the plea and indicated he would sentence the defendant to a period of incarceration in a state correctional facility of from 3-9 years.  Sentencing is December 4.