A Carson City mother was given probation on Tuesday for reportedly turning a blind eye to her boyfriend's theft from family members, and misusing thousands of dollars donated to her handicapped son to stop the bank from repossessing his specially equipped van.

Virginia Dempsey, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to abuse, exploit or isolate a vulnerable person. She was given up to three years' probation and a suspended jail sentence of one year.

In exchange for her guilty plea, the Carson City District Attorney's Office agreed not to pursue charges against Dempsey into money missing from her son's bank account, the plea agreement states.

According to court documents, Dempsey's son Jared, 20, is confined to a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy.

Dempsey's boyfriend, David Catalani, was arrested and convicted of stealing and pawning several items from Jared and his siblings. Catalani was sentenced in April to 12 to 32 months in prison on a charge of grand larceny.

During the course of that investigation, a deputy learned that Dempsey, who is appointed as Jared's guardian, used $7,000 of donated money to bring payments up to date on the van. Another $11,000 in donations was spent on various things, and some of the money had been withdrawn from a casino ATM, the report states.

When the issue came to light on Feb. 2, Jared's account, over which Dempsey had control, contained just $24, court documents indicate.

More than $18,000 was raised for Jared's van after a story ran in the Nevada Appeal in December.

Dempsey told investigators she used the money to buy food, pay bills for Jared and keep her own bank account from being overdrawn, the report states.

She also alleged that she was so frightened of Catalani that she gave him money whenever he demanded.

Deputy Bob Motamenpour said Tuesday that as of May there still was $12,450 owed on the van.

Dempsey said Wednesday that money donated to her son is in his account.

“It may appear that nothing was paid to the van, but that is not true, and all the money has been recovered and put toward what the community donated it for,” she said.

“I was in an abusive relationship. ... I was afraid to stand up to David and I thought he would harm us even more. I can't explain why I was so weak when it came to him, but fear got the best of me. ... I am still at fault (for) not protecting my children at all cost, no matter if it meant that he hurt me more. I am continuing to do counseling to recover from the emotional destruction this man has done.”

Dempsey said she's sickened by her own inaction.

“I can honestly say I have restored what the community has done for Jared. I do know ... the community has given where they couldn't give, and I can't express how (grateful) Jared and I are to have had such an (outpouring) when times were so hard. I did not let the community down. I was a victim,” she said. “I can't tell you how awful I feel about this whole thing.”

In addition to probation, Dempsey must undergo a mental health evaluation and a substance abuse evaluation and take parenting classes. She must also have no contact with Catalani and pay an undetermined amount in restitution to the bank account.Dempsey said she repaid the full amount in March.

“This is the best resolution we could get in order to get that money returned to the bank account,” said Assistant District Attorney Gerald Gardner.

“I will live with this for the rest of my life, and I do not feel proud of this,” said Dempsey.

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20110714/NEWS/110719849/1007&parentprofile=1058

I hope the boyfriend gets repeated forced gangbanges in Prison and the mom needs a good a$$ kicking. I am sick to my stomach even just reading this.

When there is that kind of donations and fundraising going on there should be some kind of law demanding they prove where those donations went to. A lot of people run scams, defraud and abuse that way. It's sickening.

To bad some one else cant handle that kids money.. thats terrrible for a mom to do that to her kid..

To bad some one else cant handle that kids money.. thats terrrible for a mom to do that to her kid..

Double post Yea, social services or a case worker. It happens a lot here and they all get a slap on the wrist like both of these people.

You should never wish harm on another person no matter what because it brings you bad luck to do so.

Just sayin.

Lpdon, what Dragoness said

it's true dude

Thats your opinion.

Yea i saw I 2 x posted.. sorry about that.

If that was true.. about not wishing or doing harm becouse it can come back on you.. Why do so many people like the woman the thread was stated about and others get away with their crimes. You would think that she would at least get a flesh eating desease or something.. but she wont she will just find another way to use her son for profit.

There is no magic sky tallying karma system folks. I tend to agree not to wish ill on anyone, but for my own mental health, not for any magical thinking about what kinda vibes you put out there.

This line of thinking ultimately blames the victims of violence for imagined ill thoughts . . . there can really be no greater harm to freedom then the idea of thought crimes which is what this idea boils down to.

Protect yourselves people, no one else is going to do it, and no amount of good will is going to protect you.

I disagree in that what we put out comes back to us as positive energy or negative energy. When we wish bad on others that is a negative and will bring negative back to you.

But it is for your own mental health too. IMO People who can determine if others need to be hurt or dead are not mentally well anyway.

So judges are insane? I KNEW IT!

Honestly, there can be no coherent, consistent rational approach to Karma that is not just social interaction at some level.

and the 12 jurors who voted for the death penalty in some cases,but thats actually on the decline in Florida.

Ohh yea them too, cant be deciding on issues of justice or your crazy and asking for bad vibes!

Some of the very best, most caring and kind people among us are brutally murdered without a harsh or evil thought having had a dam thing to do with it.

My best friend was brutally raped and murdered she was the most kind hearted person I knew, it really bothers me that people still think magic can protect them, and all they have to do is think nice thoughts to keep real evil from harming them.

I wonder what kind of evil harmfull thoughts that children have that couse their parents to abuse or kill them.....
(sarcasm intended)

And Jury's too. Since they reccommend it on a daily basis.

I would have voted Not Guilty too.

Is it OK if I just don't feel too bad when harm comes to a bad person?

Hell, the ONE person that has profited off the death of Caylee Anthony is Nancy Grace.