Maxine Donaldson, 53, pleaded in two cases containing the charges of neglect of an elderly person, operating an unlicensed personal care home, and 13 counts of exploitation of an elderly person. The plea negotiation was for a prison term of 10 to 15 years. Judge Daniel J. Craig sentenced Donaldson to 15 years followed by five years on probation.
Donaldson was arrested in 2017 for exploitation of an elderly adult for stealing $25,000 from a 69-year-old Alzheimer’s patient in her licensed personal care home, Shavonna’s Place. She added herself to the man’s bank account without the knowledge or consent of his children. The man was placed at Donaldson’s home, where she agreed to take care of him for $1,600 a month. A few months later, she increased his monthly fee to $2,600 without telling his children, Assistant District Attorney Amanda Pennington said.
While on bond in that case, the Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly task force discovered she had set up an unlicensed home on Belair Road, Pennington said. Conditions of her bond included closing the personal care home and getting out of the business.
The CAVE investigation found Donaldson had moved vulnerable adults from her licensed home into the unlicensed home, and used a mentally disabled patient to take care of the others. A disabled resident told CAVE investigators that he didn’t know how much he paid Donaldson from his $2,400 monthly benefits, but he said he got $30 a month in spending money, Pennington said. Bank records for an elderly man revealed Donaldson had added her name to his account and used a debit card to steal around $9,000.
Pennington asked the judge to impose a 15-year prison sentence because Donaldson continued to prey on people who put their complete trust in her and couldn’t defend themselves.
Defense attorney Shawn Merzlak asked the judge to consider a sentence of 10 years in prison. Donaldson, who had no prior criminal record, had a lifetime of service and volunteer work in the community. he said. She worked with Hyde Park residents to help them understand the extent of contamination of the neighborhood, and she helped children through years of work with her foundation, Big Sisters in Action. She took part in gathering Christmas packages for senior citizens, raising funds for families to have Thanksgiving dinners, and feeding the homeless, Merzlak said.
Donaldson apologized to anyone she might have harmed and said she was taking responsibility for any lack of judgment.
The judge imposed the special conditions of elder abuse, including putting Donaldson on the elder abuse registry. Craig also imposed restitution of $34,000. Donaldson agreed to release an estimated $8,000 to $9,000 to the victims that was confiscated during the search of her unlicensed home.
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Augusta woman gets 15-year sentence for elder abuse
This is reasonable and I'm glad to see it.
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