Ottawa man gets probation for stealing from 95-year-old woman

A Franklin County judge Monday sentenced a 65-year-old Ottawa man to serve two years on probation and pay $90,431 in restitution after he was convicted of stealing from a 95-year-old woman while he was designated her power of attorney.

According to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office, Judge Thomas Sachse ordered Guadalupe Mora if he violates terms of his probation to concurrently serve 13 months in prison on one count mistreatment of a dependent adult and one count of theft. Mora pleaded no contest to the two counts in January.

Prosecutors last April accused Mora of using undue influence and false representation to pay himself and others after he was given power of attorney by Edna Brouhard, who was 95 when charges were filed. By then, Brouhard had a new conservator and guardian.

Officials in Franklin County and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services initially investigated the case, and Stefani Hepford, an assistant attorney general, prosecuted it.

Mora must also perform 100 hours of community service and was ordered to have no authority or control over another person’s assets or finances.