No jail for woman who stole from comatose mom in Mill Creek

Instead, Jaclyn Singleton will serve 240 hours of community service, and pay $63,000 in restitution.

MILL CREEK — A Cheney woman who stole from her comatose mother probably won’t go to jail.

Instead, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge George Appel ordered her last month to do 240 hours of community service — the equivalent of 30 days behind bars — and pay more than $63,000 in restitution.

Jaclyn Singleton, 42, pleaded guilty on March 15 to first-degree theft and forgery.

According to charging papers, Singleton’s mother had suddenly fallen ill in January 2018. The Mill Creek woman was getting ready for her work as a nurse practitioner, “like any other day,” when she collapsed, Singleton wrote in a GoFundMe that raised more than $5,000.

She was taken to the emergency room at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, where she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack the nerves. The disorder can cause numbness and paralysis, and it can take months to recover. The woman was hooked up to a ventilator and placed into a medically induced coma.

Meanwhile, her daughter, Singleton, solicited help from friends and family. A small town judge in New York said she lent a helping hand, pitching in for two months of the mortgage, totaling $3,900, according to charging papers. The judge wired another $1,000 when Singleton called again asking for help with medical bills.

Behind the scenes, Singleton also moved to fraudulently gain power of attorney over her mother, according to charging documents. Transactions on her mother’s account totaled at least $70,000, prosecutors wrote.

Singleton reportedly told authorities that any money she touched was used to help her mother. However, investigators noted transactions that seemed unlikely to benefit her mother, including at grocery stores in Spokane and a coffee shop. Singleton spent money at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, even though nothing had been done to fix up her mother’s vehicle. And there were charges for Verizon Wireless, even though her mother doesn’t have an account with the company.

Singleton’s mother awoke from her coma in April 2018. She went through months-long physical rehabilitation, and stayed with her daughter for a while before returning home.

Once back in Mill Creek, she realized her daughter hadn’t paid her medical bills, mortgage or anything else that needed to be paid.

Singleton was charged in December. By then, she already had indicated through her attorney that she would plead guilty and agree to pay restitution. In return, prosecutors agreed not to file numerous identity theft charges and wouldn’t ask for an exceptional sentence.

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.