MURRAY, Ky. — A Murray woman has pleaded guilty to multiple theft-related charges in connection with the misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars from an elderly client.
According to the Murray Sentinel, 53-year-old Leslie Lockhart pleaded guilty last Thursday to 23 counts of forgery, theft of identity, and an amended charge of theft by unlawful taking under $10,000, with one count dismissed.
Lockhart was initially arrested on February 3, 2025, after an investigation revealed she had stolen money from Maria Judy, an elderly woman she served as both a financial assistant and part-time caregiver. The thefts came to light when Judy’s heirs discovered financial discrepancies following her death in December 2024. Investigators uncovered 20 forged checks and multiple unauthorized transactions from Judy’s investment accounts.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Lockhart will serve five years on one count and three years on another, to run consecutively, plus one year on each of the remaining 23 counts concurrently, for a total prison term of eight years. She is also ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution to Judy’s estate.
Lockhart’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 20, 2026.
