Woman who fleeced elderly man given more probation

 Peggy Evers Peggy Evers
Peggy Evers Peggy Evers

FAYETTEVILLE -- A New Mexico woman who pleaded guilty last year to swindling an elderly Fayetteville man was sentenced to an additional 15 years probation Thursday for failure to appear.

Peggy Sue Evers pleaded guilty to theft by deception in January 2014. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Mark Lindsay sentenced Evers to eight years of probation and ordered her to pay $72,800 restitution, give the man's home back to him and return four vehicles.

Evers, 55, went home to Albuquerque and never returned the vehicles, according to prosecutors. She then failed to show up for her probation revocation hearing Sept. 18. Evers was arrested Oct. 1 and brought back to Arkansas.

In addition to the probation, Evers was given credit for 257 days jail time served, ordered to pay the remaining $64,200 restitution she owes and was ordered to have no contact with the victim, according to David Bercaw, deputy prosecuting attorney.

Evers was arrested June 4, 2013, after she scammed Don Fulton, 75. Fulton and Evers met on the Internet and married Feb. 19, 2013. Evers convinced Fulton she was country music star Alison Krauss, even though Evers bears no physical resemblance to the entertainer.

First Security Bank reported a welfare concern to police April 19, 2013, after Evers withdrew several thousand dollars from Fulton's bank account. Bank officials said Fulton was in poor health, and they were concerned he was being taken advantage of.

Fulton told police his bank account went from $45,000 to $5,000 after marrying Evers.

Fulton said he signed a quitclaim deed to his residence, which he valued at $245,000, to Evers because she said the house would be put in his son's name.

Police said Evers filed a new will for Fulton that would give his assets to her and listed her children as his children. Police also said Evers made two meritless allegations of battery against Fulton in an attempt to gain control of his residence.

NW News on 04/17/2015

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