By Dan Doyle | DelawareValleyNews.com
DOYLESTOWN, PA — A disgraced former Bucks County police officer was sentenced Friday to seven years of restricted probation after entering a nolo contendere plea in a case involving an attempt to defraud a 77-year-old Langhorne woman in connection with her $500,000 estate.
Carlito Cortez, 60, of Richboro, will serve the first 90 days of the sentence in home detention after entering a nolo contendere plea in December to criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. A nolo contendere plea — means the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts conviction and sentencing as if a guilty plea had been entered.
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller also imposed a concurrent seven-year probationary term for perjury. As a result of the convictions, Cortez is permanently disqualified from holding any position in law enforcement.
Cortez previously worked part-time for the Yardley Borough and Langhorne Borough police departments.
Prosecutors said Cortez exploited his Langhorne Police Officer position after being assigned to investigate a theft at the victim’s home in 2020. Investigators determined he later persuaded the woman to sign what he represented as a power of attorney document. Authorities said the document was actually a last will and testament intended to give him control over the woman’s estate.
As part of his sentence, Cortez must have no contact with the victim, undergo a mental health evaluation, complete a decision-making course, and submit a written letter of apology.
“This case serves as a firm reminder of our commitment to protecting our seniors from those who seek to exploit them,” Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said.
During sentencing, the victim’s impact statement described the emotional toll of the case, saying she now lives in fear and struggles to trust others.
“The reason I am coming forward with this now is to protect other women in the future,” the woman wrote.
The case was investigated by Bucks County Detective Timothy Johnson, The Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury, and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Alan J. Garabedian.
Original article link here: https://delawarevalleynews.com/2025/05/14/former-lower-bucks-police-officer-arrested-for-theft-by-deception-charges/