A Cary woman was sentenced to probation for selling a skid steer, which she did not own but listed for sale online, to a man for over $20,000 in Woodstock.
Margret A. Taylor, 49, of the 1500 block of Augusta Lane in Cary, was indicted in August 2019 on charges of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, a Class 2 felony, and deception by false statement, a Class A misdemeanor.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Taylor listed for sale a 2014 Caterpillar 236D skid steer on the OfferUp app.
The equipment was actually rented from Ziegler CAT in Minnesota and was not owned by Taylor, the complaint said.
Taylor listed it for $22,000 on the app and eventually came into contact with a man, who she met on two occasions.
Prior to an agreement being reached between the two, Taylor told the man that there were no liens, holds or restrictions on the skid steer, according to the complaint.
The victim paid Taylor $20,500 after she sold him the skid steer on August 16, 2019.
The transaction occurred in the parking lot of Blain’s Farm and Fleet, 11501 Route 14 in Woodstock.
Court records show Taylor entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday.
She pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $10,000, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for her second charge being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge approved the plea deal and sentenced Taylor to one year of probation.
Coppedge also ordered Taylor to pay $20,500 in restitution to the victim and pay $2,410 in court fines and fees.