MURRAY – On the eve of the one-year anniversary of her arrest, the Murray woman accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an elderly woman pleaded guilty Thursday under an agreement requiring her to repay $300,000 to the victim’s estate and tying her ability to avoid prison to restitution.
Leslie Lockhart, 53, was arrested Feb. 7, 2025, after an investigation determined she had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from Maria Judy, an elderly woman for whom she served as both a financial assistant and part-time caregiver. Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens set bond at $20,000 cash, which was posted within two days.
According to the complaint warrant, financial discrepancies were discovered by Judy’s heirs following her death in December 2024. The investigation uncovered 20 forged checks and multiple unauthorized transactions from Judy’s investment accounts.
Originally, Lockhart faced 26 criminal charges:
- Count 1: theft by unlawful taking, more than $10,000, a Class C felony
- Counts 2-24: second-degree forgery, Class D felonies
- Count 25: theft of identity of another without consent, a Class D felony
- Count 26: knowingly exploiting an adult, a Class D felony
Thursday, she pleaded guilty to 23* counts of second-degree forgery in addition to theft of identity of another without consent and the amended charge of theft by unlawful taking, less than $10,000, a Class D felony. Count 26 was dismissed.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, the recommended sentence is five years on Count 1 and three years on Count 25, to be served consecutively, plus one year each on Counts 2-24, to be served concurrently with Counts 1 and 25, for a total sentence of eight years. Lockhart also agreed to pay restitution to the Estate of Maria Judy in the amount of $300,000.
The agreement followed a mediation involving Lockhart, her attorney Jason Holland, Special Prosecutor Richie Kemp, and Judy’s daughter and son-in-law. Former Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton mediated the session.
The restitution terms reflect the central issue in the case: recovering the money prosecutors said Lockhart stole from Judy. Investigators previously alleged Lockhart forged checks and made unauthorized transfers totaling more than $256,000, prompting court orders early in the case restricting her ability to sell property out of concern she might be unable to repay the estate. The plea agreement now makes restitution the determining factor in whether she ultimately serves prison time or remains on probation.
Kemp agreed not to oppose probating the sentence for a period of five years, provided Lockhart fulfills several requirements, all of which are related to the restitution. Within 30 days, Lockhart must pay $100,000. Within 60 days, she must pay another $100,000 or list her home for sale. If the home is sold, all remaining proceeds after mortgage and closing costs must be applied toward restitution.
Any remaining balance must be paid in monthly installments of $3,000 until paid in full, with the first payment due at sentencing, scheduled for Monday, April 20, at 8:30 a.m., giving Lockhart 75 days to satisfy the initial restitution requirements.
The agreement also states that the $300,000 restitution cannot be discharged in bankruptcy because the debt arose from criminal activity.
The agreement further specifies that if Lockhart pays the restitution in full within the probationary period, Kemp will not oppose reducing probation, provided she has completed at least three years. Upon successful completion of the probation, Kemp will not oppose expungement of the convictions.
The plea agreement shifts the case’s focus from proving what happened to determining what comes next. Whether Lockhart ultimately serves prison time – or has the chance to clear her name – will largely depend on whether she repays the $300,000 she owes Judy’s estate.
*CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the number of second-degree forgery counts filed against Lockhart. This version has been corrected. We regret the error.
