ROCKLAND, Maine — Justice Daniel Billings said Friday that the day of reckoning had arrived for Margaret Robinson.
Billings sentenced the 35-year-old Rockland mother to five years in prison with all but 18 months suspended for two counts of felony theft, two counts of aggravated forgery, 10 counts of unsworn falsification and one count of attempted theft by deception. In all, the state said Robinson illegally received $80,000 in welfare benefits.
In arguing for the sentence, Assistant Attorney General Darcy Mitchell cited the four-year time span over which the thefts occurred, the effort she put into committing and trying to cover up the fraud, the amount of money stolen, and Robinson’s criminal record. Mitchell said Robinson was convicted in 2000 for Class A robbery and served nine months in jail. No other information on that conviction was available Friday.
The prosecutor said Robinson consistently lied about whether her husband lived in her residence. When she realized the state was investigating her for fraud, Robinson went to her neighbors and asked them to lie about her husband living with her. To help her retain benefits, the Rockland woman also forged numerous documents, according to Mitchell.
Robinson received housing assistance and food stamps over a four-year period, ending in November 2011. She was indicted in April 2013.
Defense attorney Lawrence Frier asked that his client be placed under house arrest. He said Robinson suffered from health problems, was the victim of domestic violence, and had an ill child who needed her care. He also said she had obtained employment as a chef and had made significant strides in her personal life.
Billings said he would not consider the domestic violence allegations as a mitigating factor because Robinson had never raised the issue and there was no evidence other than her statement as she faced sentencing.
Frier asked Billings to allow Robinson to have an additional two weeks before she reported to prison so she could make a medical appointment and then she might seek an additional stay of execution depending on what the doctor recommended. The judge rejected that request, saying she knew this day was coming. He said if she needs medical care, she can get it while in jail.
The judge also ordered Robinson to serve three years probation after her release and to make full restitution. Frier said restitution would be more difficult if she were sent to jail.