EBENSBURG —
A former part-time handyman/caregiver for an elderly West Hills woman was sentenced Wednesday to six to 15 years in state prison for misappropriating more than $600,000 from the woman, who thought of him as a son.
Frank A. “Mousey” Solensky, 55, had maintained his innocence at his trial in July, but on Thursday he briefly apologized to the victim and his own family “for putting them through this.”
Judge David Tulowitzki ordered Solensky to pay restitution totaling $612,051 – more than $50,000 less than the figure presented at trial because of some credits allowed by prosecutors. The money was misappropriated from 2000 through early 2008.
The victim’s daughter maintained that the actual amount which he had “conned” from her mother – now 94 years old – was more tha $1 million when considering earlier years that could not be prosecuted under the statute of limitations. The defense contended that the restitution should be about $313,000.
Solensky had worked for the woman for about 15 years, starting when a friend recommended him as a person who could fix her furnace, according to trial testimony.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Solensky had greatly inflated the costs of materials and supplies that he used in making improvements to her house and property and also evidence that not all the work was completed as claimed.
Solensky also was ordered to pay $6,110 for a forensic audit of the victim’s bank records done by Wessel & Co.
Tulowitzki denied a defense motion seeking to have Solensky remain free on bond pending the outcome of an appeal, or for at least 30 days.
Defense attorney Thomas Dickey said that the 30 days would allow the defendant to continue selling equipment from a restaurant/bar which Solensky formerly had operated, as well as two vehicles. The equipment is scheduled to be sold at a sheriff's sale, Dickey said.
The judge, recalling that Solensky had previously promised to pay $100,000 of the restitution, said, “We haven’t seen a penny of restitution. We’re at the point where the rules of engagement have changed. He’s remanded to the Cambria County Prison (to await transfer to a state prison).”
Tulowitzki described the elderly woman as a member of the “Greatest Generation,” which had gone though the Depression and World War II.
“What does society owe that generation? At the very least, safety and security in their last years,” he said.
Although Solensky once had worked as a Windber police officer serving his community, the judge said, “The flip side is that he be held to a higher standard” in following the law.
Members of Solensky’s family appealed to the judge to impose a county prison sentence. They described him as a compassionate father who “is the backbone of the family.”
But the victim and her family described the elderly’s woman’s anguish when she first realized that Solensky had betrayed her trust.
“I can’t cry (at the hearing) because I’ve spent 21⁄2 years crying every day because of what Frank had done to me. I was shocked with the news that Frank – whom I trusted – had betrayed me,” the victim said.
She told the judge that she wanted Solensky to go to jail because “I don’t want this to happen to anybody else.”
Afterward she said that although she felt justice was done with the prison sentence, she believed “It could have been more because when he comes out of jail, God knows what he’ll do.”
Her daughter said, “I’m grateful he’ll be in state prison. I hope this sends a message to other con artists out there. My mother went through personal hell over this.”
Assistant District Attorney Mike Carbonara said that the sentence “gives the family closure.” Although he had asked for a nine- to 18-year sentence, Carbonara said that he was satisfied with the term imposed because it’s a state prison sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Wayne Langerholc said that while it’s uncertain how much money Solensky ever will be able to repay in restitution, he’s hopeful the victim will get at least a portion of it.
Langerholc said that prosecutors are confident that the jury’s verdict will not be overturned on appeal.
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