A magistrate yesterday refused to release a lawyer from prison to allow her to make restitution to a retired client from whom she stole almost $100,000.
Sonia Timothy Serrette, 42, has been in prison since August 15 after Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell convicted her of stealing by reason of service.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Geoffrey Farquharson said Serrette was prepared to meet her obligations to Fiordelisa Bain, a retired teacher from whom she stole $96,967.50 in October 2009.
Serrette cried quietly as her lawyer said that Serrette’s young children were out of school as a consequence of her remand. Her husband, Stephen, sat behind her and whispered to her.
Farquharson asked the court to make a compensation order instead of sentencing Serrette to prison, as she was the family’s sole breadwinner.
Bethell said she didn’t realize that Serrette was still allowed to practice. The magistrate said, “This is not the only matter.”
Serrette insisted that she was still able to make a living as a lawyer.
Magistrate Bethell said the court case came about because of Serrette’s failure to repay Bain.
Bethell said if Serrette came up with a substantial sum of money and Bain was prepared to accept the offer, the court would “take it from there.”
She said, “I don’t want the defendant to be incarcerated and this old woman to be out almost $100,000.”
However, she flatly rejected a suggestion that the court release Serrette from prison to allow her to get the money together.
Bethell said, “No, the defendant had three years.”
Serrette returns to court on October 10 to update the court on her repayment efforts.
By Artesia Davis
The Nassau Guardian
