StarBulletin.com

Ex-Big Isle woman gets 45 days for theft


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POSTED: Friday, February 06, 2009

HILO » Former Big Islander Connie Yarborough has been sentenced in Oregon to 45 days in jail and five years' probation for her part in stealing $2 million in gold, silver, coins and jewels with her husband. She is cooperating with authorities.

;  With the help of his wife, Dakotah Yarborough, 42, tricked his former stepmother in Bend, Ore., into changing the combination of her safe last year, giving him access.

He quickly came under suspicion, and police surveillance led to his arrest in September.

Connie Yarborough, 38, was in Bend at the time of the theft in August, and she was arrested in California after her husband.

She was sentenced Tuesday after returning to Bend to face a single charge of aggravated theft.

District Attorney Michael Dugan said she cooperated with police, telling them where items were pawned or sold, allowing police to recover much of the property. She also agreed to testify against her husband, who is awaiting trial.

She must also pay $725,000 in restitution, either by herself or with her husband, Dugan said.

Dakotah Yarborough faces charges of first-degree burglary, eight counts of identity theft, six counts of aggravated theft, three counts of simple theft and three counts of money laundering.

The couple arrived on the Big Island about four years ago. Connie Yarborough won a judgment of $150,000 in a lawsuit after arriving, but at the time of her arrest, she had not received the money, said her lawyer, Lawrence Cohn.