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Erma Jerva talks with a relative at Onondaga Co. Court about her case against Pat Bombard. It was determined in Judge Aloi's courtroom that Mr. Bombard is paying back the funds he swindled from her. Bombard did not appear today.

(David Lassman | dlassman@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, NY -- Former Skaneateles car dealer Pat Bombard has nearly made good on the debt he owes a 93-year-old woman.

Bombard's case was up for review in Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi's courtroom today. Aloi said he had received a fax from Bombard's lawyer showing that, since May, he has paid $50,000 to Erma Jerva.

Altogether, Bombard has given Jerva around $150,000, according to his defense attorney, Robert Durr.

He still owes around $46,000, said Durr. The judge granted Bombard, who was not in court, a 90 day extension to pay the remainder of the balance.

Jerva, meanwhile, has vowed to "live long enough" for repayment. She declined to comment after court today, telling a reporter, "there's just nothing to say."

Bombard, of Heritage Woods, struck a land-deal with Jerva, who owned property adjacent to his Chevrolet car dealership, in 2008.

Under terms of the sale, Jerva was to maintain the use of her property for the remainder of her life and Bombard agreed to pay her over time for the $180,000 mortgage she held on the property.

Instead, Bombard stopped payments in 2009 and filed a phony mortgage discharge in the Onondaga County Clerk's Office in 2008.

Bombard has also admitted in court to stealing from several customers at his dealership from 2007 through 2010 by taking loan money that was supposed to be used to pay off other vehicles.

Bombard was sentenced to five years' probation last year. Aloi said he decided against jail time to give Jerva a better chance to recoup the full restitution Bombard owed toward the mortgage she holds on the property she sold to him.

Aloi has promised Bombard a prison sentence if he doesn't pay Jerva back.