A Bennington husband and wife were each sentenced to one year in prison Thursday after they were convicted of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the husband's sister.A jury convicted Karen and Jim Folley of stealing about $90,000 from Jim Folley's sister, Barbara. Prosecutors said they used ATM cards and bank transfers to steal the money.The money was supposed to be used to provide for long-term care, but prosecutors said the Folleys spent it on themselves."They wanted Kitchen-Aid mixers," Assistant Attorney General Bryan Townsend said. "They wanted an Emeril Lagasse 10-piece stainless steel set. Jim wanted to fix up his own hot rod."The victim's stepdaughter, Kathleen Curry, said her father left the money for Barbara so she wouldn't have to worry about her future. The victim died in 2017 at age 83."To know that Barbara lived the last years of her life in jeopardy because Jim and Karen chose to steal that money broke our hearts," Curry said.Prosecutors asked that Jim Folley, 69, be sentenced to four to eight years and that Karen Folley, 62, be sentenced to two to four years. Defense attorneys asked for a suspended sentence, saying the two had no prior criminal record.In addition to the one-year sentences, the Folleys were ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution.The Folleys did not speak at the hearing under advice from their lawyers, who said they are appealing the verdict.

A Bennington husband and wife were each sentenced to one year in prison Thursday after they were convicted of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the husband's sister.

A jury convicted Karen and Jim Folley of stealing about $90,000 from Jim Folley's sister, Barbara. Prosecutors said they used ATM cards and bank transfers to steal the money.


The money was supposed to be used to provide for long-term care, but prosecutors said the Folleys spent it on themselves.

"They wanted Kitchen-Aid mixers," Assistant Attorney General Bryan Townsend said. "They wanted an Emeril Lagasse 10-piece stainless steel set. Jim wanted to fix up his own hot rod."

The victim's stepdaughter, Kathleen Curry, said her father left the money for Barbara so she wouldn't have to worry about her future. The victim died in 2017 at age 83.

"To know that Barbara lived the last years of her life in jeopardy because Jim and Karen chose to steal that money broke our hearts," Curry said.

Prosecutors asked that Jim Folley, 69, be sentenced to four to eight years and that Karen Folley, 62, be sentenced to two to four years. Defense attorneys asked for a suspended sentence, saying the two had no prior criminal record.

In addition to the one-year sentences, the Folleys were ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution.

The Folleys did not speak at the hearing under advice from their lawyers, who said they are appealing the verdict.