Resident care worker pleads guilty to defrauding senior of more than $150K

A resident care worker charged with defrauding a senior of over $150,000 has pleaded guilty, but the judge has concerns about a joint recommendation for sentencing. 53-year-old Sandra Dawn Henderson was arrested earlier this year after a five-month investigation. Henderson appeared in Charlottetown Provincial Court Friday. The court heard Henderson was a self-employed care worker operating under the name Freedom First Home Care. She's seen here in an unrelated story from CBC back in 2022. She was hired to help the victim with health and mobility issues. The Crown told the court Henderson was originally paid in cash, but eventually helped the victim set up an online banking account. Over a two-year period, she fraudulently took over $150,000 through 176 e-transfers. A victim impact statement said what happened was humiliating and embarrassing for the victim and that it had significant impact on family emotionally. The Crown and Defence agreed to a 12-month conditional sentence, including electronic monitoring and house arrest. She'd be on probation for two years after completing the sentence, and she'd have to pay the money back. The Crown said the victim's death does make it harder to go to trial. The case hinges on a statement from a person who has died. There's litigation risk, and the victim can't be cross-examined. However, the judge said he had concerns with the joint recommendation. The case will be back in court in the new year, so a pre-sentence report can be done. Connor Lamont, CBC News, Charlottetown.