May 2, 2016 3 min read

A Slovan woman was sentenced Friday to 21 years of probation on charges she stole more than $400,000 from two women who were told the money was paying for nursing school.

Goldie Catherine Fields, 44, of 33 McNair Ave., also was ordered to pay back $140,000 to the women. She entered a no-contest plea Jan. 29 before Washington County Judge Gary Gilman.

One of the women, from Burgettstown, read a statement Friday during sentencing, saying she was robbed of money she saved to pay for health and living costs in her later years.

She said Fields promised to repay the money she borrowed for practical nursing school, car repairs and insurance payments. The woman said she later found out Fields wasn’t attending school or working, and was instead buying lavish gifts for herself and her family.

The woman said she felt shame and embarrassment from having lent so much money.

The other woman was not present during the sentencing, but Assistant District Attorney Jerome Moschetta said the circumstances surrounding that theft were similar.

He said the woman agreed to restitution in the amount of $10,000, when, in fact, she had given Fields around $100,000.

According to court documents, Fields contacted the Burgettstown woman in May 2010, claiming she was given her contact information from their church.

Fields allegedly asked the woman for financial assistance, claiming she needed the money to become a licensed practical nurse. She led the woman to believe she would lose her job as a nursing assistant if she didn’t secure the LPN certification, police said.

The woman told an investigator with the district attorney’s office she lent Fields about $310,000. Fields denied receiving that much, but admitted to taking between $80,000 and $90,000.

In addition to $10,000 in restitution to the woman who was not in court, Fields was ordered to pay $130,000 to the Burgettstown woman. Fields will pay $350 per month, with half going to the first woman and half to the second.

Once the first is paid in full, the entire amount will go to the Burgettstown woman. Payments beyond that will go toward restitution to the state, then court costs.

Moschetta asked that, if Fields should fail to make monthly payments, she be brought back before the judge. He asked that Gilman impose the maximum time for probation, since it will take Fields years to pay restitution.

“I think she should know her liberty is at stake every month,” Moschetta said.

Fields’ attorney, Charles Hoebler, said Fields works a full-time job and takes care of her family.

Fields declined to speak during sentencing.

If Fields pays the full amount before the 21-year period is up, she can petition the court to revisit the terms of probation, Gilman said.

Fields turned herself in to District Judge Gary Havelka June 17, 2014, and was arraigned on charges of theft by taking and theft by deception. She was released at that time on $50,000 unsecured bond.