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Lynn man sentenced for fraudulent spending spree
By Karen A. Kapsourakis / For The Item
SALEM - A 51-year-old con man from Lynn who admitted he spent more than $1,400 on a credit and debit card shopping spree in 2006 will spend three-to-four years in prison before being placed on probation for another five years.
Jerry Stewart, who last lived at 8 William Place, Lynn, changed his plea from innocent to guilty Monday afternoon in Salem Superior Court, confessing to two counts of larceny in a building, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, two counts of identity fraud and being a common notorious thief before Judge David A. Lowy.
Assistant District Attorney Michael A. Patten said the charges began on the morning of July 24, 2006 when Stewart walked into the Saltonstall Middle School on Lafayette Street in Salem and stole a credit card and a debit card from two teachers' pocketbooks.
At the time, the classrooms were empty while the children and teachers were outside.
For the next two days Stewart went on a low-end shopping spree in Salem and Swampscott.
He went to Walgreens, Pep Boys, Stop & Shop, Staples and Hat World, racking up $1,405 before the cards were canceled.
But it was months before Stewart was charged. Authorities built their case against him by gathering surveillance videos from the stores and interviewing witnesses who saw him in the school, but had thought he was a parent.
He was arrested in March of 2007.
Stewart has a past record that includes some 40 similar charges involving stolen credit cards and checks.
The sentence imposed was less than the five-to-seven years sought by Patten.
While being supervised by probation, Stewart is to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment as deemed necessary, consent to random drug screenings and stay away from the Saltonstall School.
The judge credited him the 172 days he has spent in jail awaiting trial on the case.
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elroy wrote on Oct 1, 2008 1:58 PM: