Former Saugus library worker to plead guilty

SAUGUS – A former Saugus Library worker accused of stealing more than $800,000 from the library will change her plea to guilty, according to her lawyer at a pretrial hearing at U.S. District Court in Boston on Friday.Frederick Riley, who is representing Saugus resident Linda Duffy, would not comment on why he changed her plea, citing attorney-client privilege.Federal agents arrested Duffy on Dec. 7 for allegedly stealing more than $800,000 in library fees and donations over a seven-year period while an employee there. She is charged with four counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft, and had initially pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Dec. 20 in Boston.Judge Douglas P. Woodlock also granted a motion for Duffy to undergo a psychological evaluation, which Riley said could affect what kind of sentence Duffy receives.”I’m hoping it plays a role (in sentencing) if it’s favorable,” said Riley of the evaluation.Duffy faces more than 40 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.Riley would not speculate on whether or not Duffy is mentally ill.”I’m not a doctor, so I wouldn’t venture to guess,” he said after the hearing.Riley served briefly as a member of the Saugus Library Board of Trustees before stepping down to represent Duffy after the allegations surfaced last summer. Duffy resigned from the library last July after the town of Saugus launched an investigation into the missing money.Riley said he’s also planning to review financial spreadsheets from prosecutors in the hopes of reducing the amount of money Duffy is accused of stealing.Duffy is due back in court on Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. for a plea hearing, where she will enter a guilty plea.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].