PARIS – A 44-year-old Paris man has admitted to stealing almost $100,000 from his grandmother’s savings accounts while having power of attorney over her affairs.

Gary E. Powers of 381 Hebron Road pleaded guilty Thursday in Oxford County Superior Court to two counts of theft and misuse of entrusted property. He was given a three-year sentence, all of it suspended, and four years’ probation.

In addition, Powers must pay $150 a month for 42 months, or a total of $6,300, to his grandmother, who is now in a nursing home, according to Paris police Sgt. Michael Dailey.

Powers began making substantial withdrawals the day after he was granted power of attorney over his grandmother’s affairs on July 17, 2003. On July 18 he withdrew $12,500 from her savings account at Androscoggin Savings Bank. Over the next 2 months he withdrew money every few days, in average increments of about $4,000, for a total of $78,903, court records show.

After the savings account was completely drained, Powers turned to the $18,175 in a certificate of deposit account, withdrawing all but $55.03 in less than a month, court records show.

The total amount Powers withdrew over three months, including early-withdrawal penalties, was $97,035.73.

Dailey said police became involved in the case in February 2004, after the grandmother’s attorney at Dow’s Law Office became aware of the withdrawals. He said the grandmother had medical issues that led her to turn over power of attorney to her grandson.