The New Mexico Supreme Court has reinstated the fraud conviction of a woman who induced a much-older widower to believe she was his girlfriend and gained access to his savings.
The ruling reinstates Patricia Garcia's 2013 conviction in District Court in Luna County for fraudulently obtaining $20,000 from the widower, who was in his 80s. She was in her 50s.
The state Court of Appeals had overturned Garcia's convictions for fraud and computer access with intent to defraud, ruling that there wasn't enough evidence to support the convictions.
Prosecutors appealed to the Supreme Court to have the fraud conviction reinstated, and the justices agreed.
The ruling Thursday says there was sufficient evidence supporting the jury's findings based on misrepresentations by Garcia and reliance by reliance.
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