Man Arrested for Stealing Money from Elderly Family Member in Peachtree City

Peachtree City, Ga. - According to reports out of Peachtree City, a man who is local to the area has been arrested after being accused of stealing money from a family member.

Investigators believe that he had been misappropriating the financial resources of a member of his family who is over the age of 65. Authorities began looking into the situation in late 2018. He was arrested this past week and is being held in the Fayette County Jail.

As a Fayette County Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of exploitation of an elder person in the state of Georgia in order to clarify just what the man in the story above has been accused of doing.

Exploitation of an Elder Person in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines Exploitation and Intimidation of an Elder Person 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

If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a criminal offense in the state of Georgia, please contact our offices now. We can help determine what the right options are for you.