Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Abbeville woman pleads guilty to exploiting elderly mother


An Abbeville woman received a 5-year prison sentence Monday after she pleaded guilty to the financial exploitation of her elderly mother.

Court records show 49-year-old Karen Elizabeth LaRoche pleaded guilty to felony first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly in front of Circuit Court Judge Larry Anderson.


LaRoche received a 5-year sentence as part of the guilty plea. But LaRoche also submitted an application for probation, which will be heard by the court on Nov. 6. LaRoche was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, a $500 victim’s compensation free and a $525 bail bond fee.

Henry County Sheriff’s investigators arrested LaRoche in October 2014 on the felony charge.

Sheriff’s Investigator Sgt. Steve Sanders told the Dothan Eagle after he made the arrest that the victim in the case was the suspect’s 68-year-old mother, who had given power of attorney over to the suspect after the victim was hospitalized.

“She used power of attorney to steal her mother’s money. It’s going to be in excess of $20,000,” Sanders said. “The daughter went and used her mother’s money to go on a shopping spree.”

Sanders said the sheriff’s office was notified by other relatives after the victim started receiving credit card bills and collection notices for purchases she did not make.

Court records show the charge involved LaRoche moving $30,697.50 out of the victim’s savings account for her personal benefit and obtaining and misusing credit cards for personal benefit.

The charge also alleged the victim suffered a loss of medical benefits due to non-payment of premiums, the victim’s checking account regularly showing overdraft charges, and delinquent medical bills, including an assisted living balance which exceeded $11,000.

Records show the offense occurred between Aug. 26, 2013 and May 28 of 2014. 

Full Article & Source: 
Abbeville woman pleads guilty to exploiting elderly mother

1 comment:

StandUp said...

Shame on her!