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Mahopac Woman Convicted of Grand Larceny
Viola Stroud abused responsibility as guardian of incpacitated persons
Putnam County District Attorney Kevin L. Wright announced the grand larceny conviction of Viola Stroud, age sixty two of Mahopac, after a long investigation. regarding her activities as a court appointed guardian on behalf of incapacitated persons. Mr. Wright said Investigator Edward Johnston of the District Attorney's Office, arrested. Stroud on August 26, 2005, capping a year long probe of her activities by Wright's Office. County District Attorney Wright said Stroud entered a guilty plea June 16, 2006, before County Court Judge Richard Molea, to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony and faces jail, probation or a combination of both at sentencing which is scheduled for August 25, 2006. Stroud will also be ordered to make restitution of $3,150 to the remaining victim in the investigation.
Stroud had already been court ordered to repay over $30,000 in. restitution. regarding her illegal handling of such client fiduciary responsibilities, but had not been charged criminally. District Attorney Wright said her June 16th felony criminal conviction for theft of funds, which Stroud
had claimed were monies owed to her for services she performed, showed that Stroud's actions went well beyond her original explanations of her poor bookkeeping as the cause her difficulties with the law. Wright said that anyone taking advantage of a special relationship to defraud an incapacitated person was a loathsome, vile act and would be prosecuted criminally by the Putnam County District Attorney's Office.
Ms. Stroud was represented by Timothy Curtiss of Carmel. Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher York together with Inv. Johnston. conducted the investigation of the case for the District Attorney's Office. Judge Molea was brought up from Westchester County to hear the case due to the recusal of Putnam's two County Court Judges, who as many of the other judges throughout Putnam over the years, had become familiar with Stroud in her various capacities as head. of Little Angels a court family visitation service, or as head of the Alternate Dispute Resolution. (ADR) Program in the Town of Carmel Justice Court.
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