WAILUKU (AP) — A Maui County woman convicted of stealing thousands of dollars in welfare benefits has been sentenced to three months in jail.
WAILUKU (AP) — A Maui County woman convicted of stealing thousands of dollars in welfare benefits has been sentenced to three months in jail.
Christiana Santos was sentenced after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree theft and welfare fraud. Deputy Prosecutor Emlyn said the theft charge was reduced because the estimated amount taken was just over $20,000, The Maui News reported.
Court records show the 35-year-old woman falsely reported that her children were living with her to collect welfare benefits from December 2013 to February 2015.
Wendy Hudson, Santos’ attorney, said in court that her client was not “intentionally trying to commit welfare fraud,” and that her children were “with her sometimes.”
But deputy prosecutor Emlyn Higa said the children had been with their father on the mainland and that Santos’ actions were intentional.
“This went on for a period of time,” Higa said. “There are lots of people that legitimately need those funds. She took money from the system that she wasn’t entitled to.”
At her sentencing, Santos asked 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill to have the convictions wiped from her record and said the two months she’s already served in jail have “opened my eyes.”
“I am a nurse. I had a good job at the hospital. This is not my nature. It was a bad time in my life. I wasn’t being responsible for my actions,” she said.
The judge denied Santos’ request, saying he could not be sure she wouldn’t commit any more crimes.
A restitution hearing to determine exactly how much Santos must repay is set for Sept. 22.