By Robert Rodriguez
A Tulare County woman pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges she
stole more than $5 million in stocks, securities and property from an
elderly man suffering from dementia.
Christina Alvarado, 50 of
Farmersville, was arrested Tuesday after more than a yearlong elder
abuse investigation by the Fresno County District Attorney’s major fraud
unit.
Alvarado is charged with four felonies, including theft
from an elder or dependent adult, identity theft, felony forgery and a
white collar crime enhancement for committing a crime in excess of
$500,000.
Her alleged victim is David Silnitizer, a 75-year-old widower with
dementia. Court documents allege Alvarado met Silnitizer randomly in
2016 and soon charmed her way into his life, his home and his finances. She gained legal control of his finances and was withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his bank account.
Alvarado denied any wrongdoing Thursday and pleaded with the judge to allow her out of jail. Her bail is set at $1 million.
Her
attorney Ryan Yoo told Judge James Kelley that Alvarado is not a flight
risk, has lived in Fresno and Tulare counties her entire life and is
responsible for taking care of her father and granddaughters.
Yoo also mentioned Alvarado has recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Deputy
District Attorney Douglas DiCicco said that under normal circumstances
Alvarado would qualify for zero-dollar bail, but this is not a normal
situation.
“This
is a case of long-term exploitation of a vulnerable elderly victim and
it is possible that exploitation could continue if she is released,”
DiCicco said. “Within the last year, she has had arrests in Kings County
and Santa Barbara County and she could be a flight risk.”
Kelley also found that she has 17 failures to appear in court notices within the past two decades.
Alvarado disputed that, saying she was not a flight risk and has not missed a court date in the last 18 years.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26. If convicted she could spend nine years and eight months in prison.
Full Article & Source:
Tulare County woman accused of stealing millions from elderly Fresno man enters plea
1 comment:
Christine did not abuse David He loved her and said to me he doesn't want to be without her. He says to me gI want to make it official with Christine I asked him if he bought her a ring yet he said by that she can go pick it out and buy it for him.
Post a Comment