Plea Deal Reached For Woman Accused in Senior Living Center Thefts

A 55-year-old Oak Creek woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars while managing a senior living center in Pewaukee has reached a plea deal.

Deborah Nowakowski pleaded no contest to theft of more than $10,000 from a business and had 21 felony counts of identity theft dismissed, according to online court records. She is scheduled to be sentenced April 4.

Nowakowski was the manager of Cecelia Place, a Pewaukee assisted-living facility, when an administrator in 2009 noticed thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases, according to a criminal complaint.

Police executed a search warrant in April 2010 on Nowakowski's home. They found gift cards, receipts for gift cards, vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, animal traps, a pizza oven, refrigerator, slow cooker, Nintendo Wii games and hundreds of food items stocked in the basement.

Nowakowski lived in the home with two other employees, who police suspect may have aided in the thefts, according to the complaint.

According to court documents, Nowakowski purchased $61,650 worth of items at Milwaukee County stores and $20,242 from Waukesha County stores.

The two roommates purchased $31,038 in good from Milwaukee County stores and $11,774 from Waukesha County stores.