Man, woman indicted on exploitation of disabled, elder person charges

by Billy Hobbs

EDITOR’S NOTE: An indictment is an allegation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond reasonable doubt.

A Baldwin County grand jury recently returned a five-count indictment against a local man and woman stemming from reported crimes against a disabled or elder adult.

The indictments were returned earlier this month against defendants Jerry Kenneth Barber and Bobbie Jo Barber, according to court records.

The relationship between the couple, if any, was not immediately known.

The man and woman are each charged with two counts of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult, or an elder person or resident, records show. Each is also charged with two counts of neglect to a disabled adult, an elder person or resident, and one count each of false imprisonment.

The case was presented to grand jurors following an extensive investigation by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bob Butch. 

Each of the crimes reportedly happened on Nov. 28, 2023, in Baldwin County while the victim was being supervised by the defendants.

On the neglect charge, grand jurors accuse the couple of willfully depriving the victim of necessary sustenance to the extent that the health and well-being of the victim was jeopardized, according to the indictment.

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Man, woman indicted on exploitation of disabled, elder person charges