Mequon Woman Pleads No Contest in Jewelry Thefts

Jill E. Binon, 49, of Mequon, pleaded no contest on Tuesday of one felony count related to from friends and former employers.

Binon wiped tears from her eyes as she listened to Judge Tom Wolfgram explain the rights she was giving up in entering her no contest plea; as part of a plea bargain, the state dismissed a second felony count for receiving stolen property worth more than $10,000.

Binon also faces a felony charge for theft of property exceeding $10,000 in Milwaukee County Court; she is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 for a plea/sentencing hearing in Milwaukee County.

Each felony count carries a punishment of up to $25,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison, meaning Binon now faces a maximum of $50,000 in fines and up to 20 years in prison between both counties.

Binon will also have to repay the victims for the stolen amounts, a number that her attorney, Mike Banaszak, says is not exactly clear. Banaszak points to an insurance claim of $144,000 in connection with the stolen items, while initial reports show the items valued at $92,238. Wolfgram said the amount owed will be based on factual value.

The incident came to light on May 12, when Binon's friend in Grafton noticed that several pieces of jewelry were missing from her jewelry box, which was locked and hidden in a closet. Also missing were multiple pieces of Tiffany silverware.

The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department detective investigating the thefts checked a property registry system to see whether any of the stolen items had been sold to local pawn shops. When a list came back, the Grafton woman confirmed several items as hers; she also noted that a number of items sold along with hers belonged to a friend living in Bayside, for whom Binon was a caretaker.

Binon is out of jail after posting a $5,000 cash bail; she will appear in Ozaukee County Court at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 for her sentencing.