Accused thief awaiting trial for swindling elderly
»Play Video
PUYALLUP, Wash. -- Seven months after three elderly residents were burglarized at a Puyallup retirement home, police believe they've finally found the culprit.
Two of the victims, 78-year-old Maxine Hornby and 82-year-old Margaret LaGrange, say they were sweet talked by a swindler at their retirement home.
"I thought she was a very sweet girl -- very, very nice," Hornby said of 28-year-old Fawn Bouton, who's now in jail on multiple charges of elder fraud.
"She stole from us, and that's wrong," Hornby said.
The women say Bouton gained their trust by pretending to be the granddaughter of another tenant, Robert Smith, who was in the hospital. Court documents show all of it was a ruse, and Bouton's real goal was to steal from all three of the residents.
"I was devastated," Hornby said. "I was screaming mad. I was really furious."
Hornby said Bouton somehow snatched cash and a ring right from under her nose.
Horby is angry, but LaGrange is traumatized. She said Bouton slipped into her unlocked apartment and swiped extremely important rings. One diamond is from her late mother's jewelry collection and the other from her late husband.
Police also believe Bouton cleared out Smith's apartment, swiping $10,000 in jewelry. Officers were able to track down most of the missing jewelry at a local pawn shop, but nothing will bring back the victims' sense of security.
Bouton is being held on $30,000 bail and is awaiting an April trial date.
"She's getting what she deserves," LaGrange said.
Two of the victims, 78-year-old Maxine Hornby and 82-year-old Margaret LaGrange, say they were sweet talked by a swindler at their retirement home.
"I thought she was a very sweet girl -- very, very nice," Hornby said of 28-year-old Fawn Bouton, who's now in jail on multiple charges of elder fraud.
"She stole from us, and that's wrong," Hornby said.
The women say Bouton gained their trust by pretending to be the granddaughter of another tenant, Robert Smith, who was in the hospital. Court documents show all of it was a ruse, and Bouton's real goal was to steal from all three of the residents.
"I was devastated," Hornby said. "I was screaming mad. I was really furious."
Hornby said Bouton somehow snatched cash and a ring right from under her nose.
Horby is angry, but LaGrange is traumatized. She said Bouton slipped into her unlocked apartment and swiped extremely important rings. One diamond is from her late mother's jewelry collection and the other from her late husband.
Police also believe Bouton cleared out Smith's apartment, swiping $10,000 in jewelry. Officers were able to track down most of the missing jewelry at a local pawn shop, but nothing will bring back the victims' sense of security.
Bouton is being held on $30,000 bail and is awaiting an April trial date.
"She's getting what she deserves," LaGrange said.
So...is this woman highly elusive or are did the local police just put her on a lower priority list? They had a warrant out for her arrest since summer 2012, and just now caught up with her?
I disagree with those who think she's going to get off easy. The Washington State sentencing grid is such that some of these crimes will run concurrently, but not all of them. The Identity Theft charges, in particular, will net her few years in sentenced time alone. The defense will play every emotional angle they can (good girl gone bad...desperate single mom, blah blah...) BUT even if she is considered a "first time offender," the age and vulnerability of the people she robbed will be the key factor that works against her. If this had been a matter of workplace theft or embezzlement, then it would've made local news only. I was in Tri-Cities this weekend and it was in the news down there.
Prediction? sentence of 5-7 years, then a trip up to Gig Harbor... she'll be out in 2 and a half to 3 years. If that's the case, she's still getting off easy. Still, last I heard, prison still sucks-even with the TV and free heathcare. I don't think she'll be walking out of the joint any healthier...every year in prison takes a toll of 2-3 years off a person''s life.
Â
Can we just bash this b* in the mouth and leave her toothless?Â
Eh, she'll cry and say she's sorry and get off on very little jail time, if any at all.
To do this, you have a screw loose that is not going to be tightened in this lifetime. Elderly are exploited all the time. It is a quite common type of theft for females. Easy to pose as caregivers, confidants, etc. then gain trust from these often lonely elderly people and rob them blind. Often, they will move in to "care for them" and then use up all of the elderly person's social security &/or pension check as "payment". Many actually "help" by taking over as representative payee and can cash the checks. It's wide spread really.
I had everything stolden..But,it was my elderly mom who stold it,It goe's both way's pep's.Think about that one..Not all elderly people are "SAINT'S."
@candy333 - what's that got to do with this situation? Just because your eleder mom stole from you doesn't mean every elder person steals. It doesn't give anyone a 'right' to steal from anybody.
@candy333Â If I find the creep who stole all of your punctuation, grammar and coherence, boy am I gonna smack them around!Â
These are scary times, you've got to keep your brain locked up better than that or it's going to be completely empty within a year.Â
What i will NEVER understand is why the elderly, who have lived that long and been around the block so many times and know  what scum many people are, continue to be victims?  Why do so many elderly continue to trust and fall for scams and pretty smiles when they should know by now what people are like??  Especially a pretty face, the may hide a knife behind that smile.  Its never a good idea to trust anyone, it can take years and even then there is no guarentee.  Im middle aged and am wary of trusting people for good reason. Another 30 years will make me trust less. So what is the reason that so many elderly continue to carry pocketbooks, leave purses and wallets in thier shopping carts and answer the doorbell or even leave the door unlocked, and trust anyone that carries a clipboard???  It doesnt make sense. Is there a gene that makes you less wary as you get older???
@Silver Lioness - I agree with your logic as I'm pretty much the same way. However, I see doors unlocked, purses in shopping cars, open purses hanging off shoulders and cars unlocked and people opening doors late at night and they are all younger people than elderly. I think trust or stupidity crosses all generations.Â
@Elaine2Â I see that of all ages, especially leaving the purse in the shopping cart completely unattended, out of their line of sight and at least 10-15 yards away; it absolutely makes me cringe how easy they make it.Â
Even worse to see a baby in the unattended cart, someone could wheel it out the door and be long gone before she's picked out her favorite frozen treats and backed out of the freezer case to see what's going on â or already happened â behind her.Â
I stopped even carrying a purse years ago; talk about having it all wrapped up in a nice,neat package for the POS thieving scum of the world. Car and house keys, cash, credit cards, checkbook for some of the old guard, driver's license with home address, sometimes paycheck and/or stub showing place of employment, pictures of children and loved ones, etc.Â
@MargeGunderson - yes, I carry a purse but it doesn't have much in it and I separate the keys and carry them in my picket. No credit cards anymore and never cash or very little. But yes, that's true about the child left alone - eeek.  I do think what was said up above, so many elderly are on so many medications, it can leave them fuddled. :( We need to get back to living closer to family although I know that's not always possible.
@Silver Lioness They were around at a time when doors didn't have to be locked. I remember how my grandmother always said she'd never live where she'd have to lock her door. It's the generation these women came from - from the sounds of it they were born in the 20's and 30's.
@the tide @Silver Lioness My parents were born in early 20's and they didn't trust anybody. The older I get, the more I value their ideas. People can be treacherous.
Nope
I might have to do with the degeneration of the brain as they get older or maybe even the medications that people take. Two of my grandparents were very intelligent, sharp as a tack and nobodys fool by any means. As they got older though, it became sadly apparent that they were losing the ability to focus and to think things through.Â
Saying she swiped the items instead of stole them makes it sound like she was too young to be held accountable. Who is writing this stuff?
So she is likely to get about six months of free room and board, healthcare, gym, television, and 'counseling' all on the tax payer dime.. cute or not this wolf in sheep's clothing would be better off if the system simply executed people like this! ... remember this name she will be right back at the same ole games once her miserable too short a sentence is over!
@Freespeech That explains the smirk on her ugly face.Â
this stank will never get what she deserves
I say the punishment for theft should be to cut off one toe or finger (of the criminal's choosing) for EACH convicted theft charge.Â
@Tattooed_Angel2
Then you'd better reserve a moving truck 'cause there aren't enough huevos in all of the Puget Sound to ever see that happen.
I really wish older people would start thinking before they decide to give their money and info to people that they don't know just out of the kindness of their hearts just because they believe them.
@Zoso This person had a 6 year relationship with on of his grandchildren - was considered a trusted member of the family up until 2011 - when we discovered she'd been stealing funds from Dad and others.  We told her at that time to stay away from him, and she did until about a month before this incident took place. She came back "... begging for forgiveness, and asking for help - which Dad refused (the help that is). She didn't even know he was not at home until she arrived that day, when she changed her reason for coming to: "... here to clean his apartment before he comes home..."Â
This isn't someone who was a short term friend or acquaintance, this was someone we thought we knew very well. Elderly people are easily convinced that the only way they can help is to offer monetary assistance, because many feel they can no longer physically  help.Â
My advise to anyone with elders: NEVER trust their care to just one person, MONITOR their funds carefully, and make sure you're aware of every aspect of their care. Investigate ANY thing that appears out of the ordinary  .immediately.
@Hearse76 @Zoso Hearse, by "this person" do you mean this POS pictured above, or someone else? Either way, sorry your father and his/your family had to deal with it.Â
Excellent advice, too, hopefully someone reading this will learn from your misery and that of the victims in the story, before they've lost everything valuable.Â
@Zoso Well, we don't know how long she cultivated her "relationship" with these women, and it sounds like they weren't asked for money; she robbed them. They are in a retirement home - you'd think they should be able to feel a tad bit safer than on their own.
Where ever did a child get the notion that thievery is the way to live a life?
meh, i'd tap it.
if i knew what the bottom half looked like
@Maxim You mean that's not the bottom half pictured at the top of the page?Â
This comment has been deleted
backpage.com now that there is funny.
SHE NEEDS A LONGÂ STAY IN A WOMANS PRISON,BET YOUR PARENTS ARE PROUD!
@EQUILIZERÂ It is not her fault she was not loved as a child and was abused or corrupted by her terrible parents... blah blah blah... I just hope this bimbo is sterile and does not have any spawn! | wish the justice system would execute these predators and be done with it... but the USA has no backbone on dealing with the real problem else we would not have one of the largest prison populations in the world! .... execute those who are in lockup now to solve the result of the problem... then root out the cause and take care of that next!
I'd be more than willing to cut all Faun Bouton's fingers and thumbs off just to ensure this doesn't happen again.
no charges will stick. she is a she, and may cry in court. take pity on her, for women could never willingly do harm or commit a crime.
@SwampThing Yeah, I suspect that good looking women tend to get lighter punishments. Probably extraordinarily handsome men too. It's a subconscious thing.Â
@Insomniac Dreams @SwampThing Once on a ride along, the young lady my officer stopped batted her eyes at him and said in her whiny, flirting voice, "Is it true that your department never issues tickets to the pretty girls?"
Without a second's hesitation, he said, "Yes, ma'am, that's absolutely true! Sign here please, and press hard; you're making three copies."
When we drove away, he said he hears that a lot, responds that way when he does and so far, none have called in complaints about it. The look on her face was priceless; if it'd been me it would've been well worth the reprimand if she had. :DÂ
@MargeGunderson That's hilarious! It would be interesting to ride along! I was supposed to get a ride along when I worked for Waste Management, but they never got around to it. Even garbage truck drivers have stories to tell, I imagine.Â
@SwampThingÂ
So you are *claiming* that women are never found guilty & given punishment, simply because they are women?
I call SERIOUS bulls**t on you.Since you seem to think that truly is the case, how about posting some verifiable proof/links to back up your outlandish BS claim?
@LocalLady Sarcasm is lost on you. Very, very lost.
@SwampThing I hope she gets full punishment what she did is a disgrace to the world let alone her family
This comment has been deleted
@Hadrian the pics are old for sure and you along other people including my self .. @Hadrian
Fawn Carisa Souix Bouton
Name: Fawn Carisa Souix Bouton
Location:
Pierce County, WA
Arrest Date: 2013-03-02
JustMugshots ID: 10675208
Charges: RES BURGLARY BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00646-6 TO BE SET IN COURT
THEFT 1 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00646-6 CONCURRENT
TRAFFICKING STOL PROP 1 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00646-6 CONCURRENT
RES BURGLARY BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00647-4 TO BE SET IN COURT
TRAFFICKING STOL PROP 1 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00647-4 CONCURRENT
IDENT THFT 2 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00647-4 CONCURRENT
THEFT 2 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00647-4 NONE
THEFT 3 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00647-4 CONCURRENT
TRAFFICKING STOL PROP 1 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00648-2 TO BE SET IN COURT
THEFT 3 BENCH WARRANT PUYALLUP POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERIOR CT - PIERCE CTY 13-1-00648-2 CONCURRENT
@tinkerb1083Â Damn. This sounds like an everyday thing for her lol. Stupid thief!
@tinkerb1083Â It's a shame about justmugshots.com, they always say "photo unavailable". It should be "JustNOmugshots.com"
@tinkerb1083Â "Ah Ms. Bouton, your usual table in court today?"Â
@tinkerb1083Â
Hopefully she will get the MAXIMUM on every single count, as well as the additional amount for each since the victims were senior citizens.
this is wa state if she does 4 weeks I will be amazed.
@Heisenberg They may give her more time than you think. Felony theft, how ever many counts they can get her on plus for each count they can add an aggravated theft count because of the senior status of her victims. I know a woman who went to prison last year 17 counts of felony theft in the 1st degree and 17 counts of aggravated theft because she stole money from a 67 year old man she got 62 months. with good behavior shes still looking at 3.5 years.
@pandora Hope they triple that for 3 victims.
@pandora Still not enough.  These parasites preying on the elderly ought to get triple time.