LEWISTON – A Turner woman accused of welfare fraud denied the charges on Wednesday in 8th District Court.
Leigh Sturtevant, 36, of 56 Pond Road, pleaded not guilty to one count of theft by deception and five counts of unsworn falsification.
Sturtevant is accused of lying about her living arrangements in order to collect more than $1,000 in benefits from the Department of Health and Human Services MaineCare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance programs.
Sturtevant was indicted on the charges in April. According to the indictment, she is accused of giving the false impression that she had no spouse contributing financially to the household when she applied for welfare benefits.
The Class C charge of theft by deception is punishable by up to five years in prison. The misdemeanor charges of unsworn falsification carry penalties of up to 364 days in jail each.
Sturtevant was allowed to remain free while awaiting trial. She is being represented by Lewiston attorney Allan E. Lobozzo.
Leigh Sturtevant appears in 8th District Court in Lewiston with her attorney, Allan Lobozzo, on Wednesday.
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