Sunday, December 20, 2009

Accused of Exploiting 91-Year-Old

A 61-year-old man was arrested, accused of exploiting a 91-year-old Alzheimer's patient for whom he had power of attorney.

Donald R. Stewart Jr. was arrested by a Pasco County Sheriff's Office detective on a charge of exploitation of the elderly.

Stewart, according to sheriff's office reports, used the woman's money since July to pay his bills, including his electric, utilities, cable and credit card bills. He spent $6,000 on her Discover Card without her permission and transferred more than $18,000 from her bank account to his, according to reports.

When questioned, Stewart told a detective he's known the woman for seven or eight years and met her through her boyfriend who died. He said he was her power of attorney and handles all of her business for her.

The woman is in a retirement home and when a detective tried to question her it was clear she wasn't in any mental condition to respond. She said she didn't know who Stewart was, according to the report.

Full Article and Source:
Police Say Man Exploited Woman With Alzheimer's

2 comments:

Betty said...

And now she'll go into guardianship where the funds will be taken "legally".

Sissie said...

Power of Attorney abuse is getting more and more prevalent.

Donald R. Stewart deserves a long stay in the big house.