Probation in theft ring

SYCAMORE – A 67-year-old Leland woman was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation and 250 hours of community service for her part in a multistate theft ring.

Sandra Seabright was arrested in February 2008 just weeks after her son, Mark Wright, was charged with being at the center of the ring after police found more than $200,000 in stolen vehicles and power tools were found in two storage lockers and at Seabright’s home on Kane Road in Paw Paw Township, north of Leland, where Wright also lived.

When she took the stand at her trial in February 2009, Seabright said she was not aware of what her son was doing until after his arrest in January 2008, and that she believed Wright was using her home as a base for a legitimate business of reselling items he would acquire and repair.

Seabright repeated that in a short, emotional statement Wednesday before DeKalb County Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert handed down her sentence. Seabright said it has been a "sad and painful" experience and that she was "sorry for being so very naive and stupid."

While he acknowledged that Seabright had no prior criminal record and had done community service work in the past, DeKalb County First Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Engerman argued for a sentence of at least 180 days in the county jail – plus probation and community service – because Seabright has not shown any repentance for her crimes.

She was an active participant in the theft ring, Engerman said, allowing her son to use her home as a place to store stolen items and even cashing checks for him that were written out to his aliases. He said that the three witnesses called on her behalf, as well as eight letters sent to Stuckert, all painted Seabright as a victim of her son and the criminal justice system.

"Does this women not have the ability to think for herself?" Engerman said. " ... The state strongly feels time in the county jail is appropriate."

But Seabright's attorney, Fred Morelli, said his client was not accepting guilt because she believes she's innocent. He asked that the judge not hold her accountable for letters written on her behalf. He asked for leniency.

Stuckert cited several mitigating factors in her ruling, including that Seabright's lack of prior criminal history, medical conditions and a belief that she was unlikely to commit another crime. Seabright has diabetes and other health complications.

Seabright also was sentenced to five days in the county jail, which she has already served, as well as court fines. Stuckert also asked her to undergo a psychological evaluation, since many of the letters sent to the judge on Seabright's behalf mentioned that she had been in deep depression since the end of the trial.

Morelli said that, while he does not approve of the jury's verdict, he approved of the sentence and was pleased Seabright would not serve additional jail time.

"It's a shame. I don't think she knew what was going on," he said after the sentence was handed down. "... She was a mother who made the mistake of believing in her son."

He said he would discuss whether Seabright wanted to appeal her conviction. He said that, while he had some concerns with it, his client "would probably just as soon be done with this."

Wright is next due in court June 30 for a routine hearing.