Barbara Cavner, 66, of Lawton, was arraigned before Magistrate James Becker of the 7th District Court in Paw Paw for embezzling approximately $50,000 from her aunt, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Cavner is charged with one count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult-$20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a felony punishable by up to 10 years’ incarceration and/or a fine of $15,000 or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. In March 2021, Cavner’s aunt was admitted to an assisted care facility in Lawton, where she remained until August 2023 before transferring to another facility in the same town with Cavner acting as her aunt’s attorney-in-fact, or durable power of attorney. Between March 2021 and October 2024, Cavner allegedly used large sums of her aunt’s money for her own needs. It is alleged that Cavner withdrew cash, made point-of-sale purchases, and wrote checks to herself.
