Georgia Man Arrested After Threatening His Elderly Mother for Money

A man in his late twenties has been arrested after allegedly intimidating his mother for money.

He has been accused of stealing items from her home in exchange for her money.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind one of the offenses that the man in today's story has been accused of committing.

Exploitation and Intimidation of Elder Persons in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines Exploitation and Intimidation of Elder Persons in Georgia as:

When a person:

1. Knowingly and willfully exploiting a disabled adult, elder person, or resident;
2. Willfully inflicting physical pain, physical injury, sexual abuse, mental anguish, or unreasonable confinement upon a disabled adult, elder person, or resident;
3. Willfully depriving a disabled adult, elder person, or resident of essential services.

Another way a suspect can violate the statute is by threatening, intimidating, or attempting to intimidate a disabled adult or elder person who is the subject of an investigation. It is also a crime to knowingly and willfully obstruct or in any way impede an investigation. O.C.G.A. §16-5-102.

If convicted of exploitation and intimidation of elder persons, the offense is classified as a felony. The penalty can include a prison sentence between one and twenty years or a fine of no more than $50,000.00, or both prison and a fine.

Practice Note

Elderly people are frequently victims of crimes - however, this does not mean that everyone who is accused of abusing an older person is guilty of that abuse.

If you or a loved one has been arrested, contact our offices now.