Man gets probation for financial exploitation of his mother

By Keith Gushard

A Cochranton-area man has been sentenced to probation in connection with financially taking advantage of his mother who is in a nursing home.

Paul A. Shelgren was sentenced Thursday to 18 months of probation plus court costs by Crawford County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Stevens.

In August, Shelgren, 68, entered a best interest guilty plea to financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Under a best interest guilty plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but does admit he or she would be found guilty if the case went to trial.

West Mead Township Police Department initially charged Shelgren with three felony counts — theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, theft by unlawful taking, and financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person.

Police alleged Shelgren failed to make payments totaling $10,095.50 to Embassy of Park Avenue, a nursing home in the township, for his mother’s care. Shelgren had power of attorney for his mother and took the money between Nov. 30, 2021, through July 20, 2022, to use as his own, according to documents.

According to court records, Shelgren signed an agreement with Embassy to pay for his mother’s care using her personal funds and failed to abide by the agreement’s terms.

In a plea agreement with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, which prosecuted the case, Shelgren entered the best interest plea to the financial exploitation count. In exchange for the plea, the financial exploitation count was lowered from a felony to a first-degree misdemeanor and the other two counts were not prosecuted.

Stevens ordered any restitution due in the case was to be paid to Shelgren’s mother, not Embassy as Embassy would have redress through civil court. The amount of restitution owed to the woman was to be determined.

In sentencing Shelgren to 18 months probation, Stevens said probation could end after 12 months on two conditions — that Shelgren has no probation violations after 12 months and that he was making efforts to reduce the balance of money owed based on his own assets and income.

Full Article & Source:
Man gets probation for financial exploitation of his mother