NCEA | Newsfeed Collection

NCEA Newsfeed – Thursday, March 29, 2012

The newsfeed includes articles and stories related to abuse of elders and adults with disabilities.  Articles related to elders appear in the top half of the newsfeed.  Articles related to abuse of adults with disabilities appear towards the bottom.  To subscribe to the NCEA listserv, please send an email with your name, occupation, your organization/agency name, city and state, and a statement about your professional interest or expertise in elder abuse to NCEA@UCI.edu.  Like us on Facebook!

Upcoming Events:

·         Interested in keeping up with Adult Protective Services news, events and hot topics? Join the APS listserv!

o   To sign-up for the listserv, send an email with your name, title, and agency to napsrc@apsnetwork.org

·         2012 Florida Conference on Aging (August 20-22, 2012)

o   Presented by The Florida Council on Aging  (FCOA) and the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers (FASP), in partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). The theme this year will be Aging: New Game – New Rules

o   http://www.fcoa.org/FCOA%20Sponsor%20Brochure%202012%20FINAL.pdf

·         2012 NAPSA Conference: Ending Adult Abuse: On the Horizon? (October 16-18)

o   This event in Phoenix, Arizona will be followed by the 3^rd Annual Elder Financial Exploitation Summit on October 19, 2012.  

o   Email info@apsnetwork.org for more information

·         CDAA 2012 National Elder Abuse Symposium (December 4-7, 2012)

o   Guest speakers to include Paul Greenwood, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney, Bob Nichols, Retired Marin County Deputy District Attorney, and many more

o   More information coming soon

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ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED

1.         NATIONAL, Vermont Digger, March 29, 2012
Senate support grows for Older Americans Act
http://vtdigger.org/2012/03/29/senate-support-grows-for-older-americans-act-renewal/
Chairman Bernie Sanders of Vermont was joined today by 14 other senators in calling for reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, the landmark law that supports Meals on Wheels and other programs for seniors.

2.         ARKANSAS (Joiner), WREG, March 27, 2012
Joiner, AR Police Chief Arrested for Elder Abuse
http://wreg.com/2012/03/27/joiner-ar-police-chief-arrested-for-elder-abuse/

Robert Yerbey, the police chief in Joiner, AR, has been arrested and charged with abuse of an endangered person and for not reporting it. Yerbey is accused of not responding properly to a 911 call, and was reportedly involved in financially exploiting the elderly man with the help of the man’s son.

3.         ARKANSAS (Little Rock), The Republic, March 28, 2012
Arkansas police chief accused of failing to report alleged abuse of elderly man who died
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9d88760f43734f32b20411b47a8eb6be/AR--Chief-Arrested/

A police chief in a small northeastern Arkansas community was arrested Tuesday on allegations that he failed to report the alleged abuse of an elderly man who died. The police chief had visited the elderly man and reported him as “fine” just hours before an investigator from the Department of Human Services arrived and found the elderly man breathing hard, unable to open his eyes or talk, filthy, and malnourished.

4.         ARKANSAS (Little Rock), 4029TV.com, March 28, 2012
Joiner Police Chief Arrested In Elder Abuse Case
http://www.4029tv.com/news/30785940/detail.html
An Arkansas police chief has been accused of failing to report the alleged abuse of an elderly man who was reportedly neglected and malnourished.

5.         CALIFORNIA (Fresno), ABC Local, March 28, 2012
Sheriff seeks more victims of scam targeting elderly
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8599676
The Fresno County Sheriff’s office urges anyone who has dealt with scam artist Sharon Harrelson to come forward. Harrelson is currently facing 17 counts of embezzlement and elder abuse, but authorities fear that many victims are afraid or ashamed to report their losses.

6.         CALIFORNIA (Fresno), Fresno Bee, March 28, 2012
Fresno Co. sheriff seeks victims in elder scam case
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/28/2778996/fresno-co-sheriff-seeks-more-potential.html
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims is asking the public's help in locating more people who may have been victimized by Sharon Elaine Harrelson, 55, who was arrested this month on charges of elder abuse and embezzlement.

7.         CALIFORNIA (Fresno), KSEE 24, March 28, 2012

Fresno Scam Artist Takes More than $1 Million From Elderly
http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Fresno-Scam-Artist--144726185.html
A woman who was fired from a long term care planning and insurance services company has been charged with 17 counts of elder abuse. Total losses are estimated at over one million dollars.

8.         CALIFORNIA (San Bernardino), The Press-Enterprise, March 27, 2012
Man accused of scams on elderly victims jailed
http://www.pe.com/local-news/san-bernardino-county/san-bernardino-county-headlines-index/20120327-san-bernardino-victims-of-elder-scam-sought.ece
San Bernardino County district attorney’s investigators are looking for possible victims of a man being held on suspicion of elder abuse and burglary. DA’s investigators say Lozano would offer to assist elderly people by doing odd jobs, especially construction work. After receiving the money upfront, he would either do substandard work or fail to even start the job. The suspect operated in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties.

9.         CALIFORNIA (San Bernardino), ABC Local, March 27, 2012
Man accused of elder abuse, theft in Inland Empire, Los Angeles
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=8597879
A man has been accused of elder abuse and theft in San Bernardino and other counties, and authorities are asking for help in tracking down his victims. The suspect would allegedly prey on the elderly by offering to help them with construction-type odd jobs in exchange for money, but upon payment would either not start the work or leave it incomplete.

10.       FLORIDA (St. Petersburg), KTUL, March 28, 2012
Former Insurance Agent Arrested For Exploiting Elderly
http://www.ktul.com/story/17276027/former-insurance-agent-arrested-for-exploitating-elderly
A man who officials say was a formerly licensed insurance agent has been arrested, accused of elder abuse and exploitation with an unknown number of victims in the Tulsa area.

11.       ILLINOIS (East Moline), Quad-City Times, March 28, 2012
Police officer accused of stealing from mother-in-law
http://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-officer-accused-of-stealing-from-mother-in-law/article_3e441070-7946-11e1-bea6-001a4bcf887a.html
The East Moline police officer arrested this week on misconduct charges is accused of stealing from his 76-year-old mentally ill mother-in-law, documents released in his case Wednesday show.

12.       ILLINOIS (East Moline), KWQC, March 26, 2012
Elder Abuse Awareness
http://www.kwqc.com/story/17260758/the-signs-of-elder-abuse
An East Moline Police Officer has been charged with several felony counts, including financial exploitation of the elderly/disabled. This article advises on how to detect and report elder abuse.

13.       ILLINOIS (Galesburg), Rockford Register Star, March 28, 2012
Man claiming to be a Galesburg priest posts bail
http://www.rrstar.com/updates/x586830159/Man-claiming-to-be-a-Galesburg-priest-arrested-posts-bail
A religious leader dismissed by the Roman Catholic Church as a fraud is free on bond after being charged with theft and financial exploitation of an elderly person.

14.       ILLINOIS (Galesburg), Galesburg.com, March 27, 2012
Phony priest released on $7,500 bail
http://www.galesburg.com/features/x760604286/Phony-priest-released-on-75-000-bail
A fraudulent Catholic priest remains out on bond Tuesday after being charged with stealing more than $100,000 from an elderly woman to keep his Galesburg abbey running.

15.       INDIANA (Plymouth), South Bend Tribune, March 29, 2012
Plymouth man facing felony neglect charges
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-plymouth-man-facing-felony-neglect-charges-20120329,0,1246058.story
Sixty-one-year-old Darrel Scheuer is facing felony neglect charges after a woman in his care was found on the floor of their home and had been there for about a month, investigators said. The woman had ulcers and sores on her back, buttocks, and left breast, and had a severe infection in her elbow and was dehydrated.

16.       INDIANA (Plymouth), WSBT, March 29, 2012
UPDATE: Police arrest caregiver of Plymouth woman left on floor 30 days
http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-police-arrest-caregiver-of-plymouth-woman-left-on-floor-30-days-20120329,0,7321790.story
61-year-old Darrel Scheuer is facing felony neglect charges for leaving his wife on the floor of their home for 30 days.

17.       MICHIGAN (St. Joseph County), Sturgis Journal, March 27, 2012
Community involvement a key to protecting vulnerable adults
http://www.sturgisjournal.com/features/x586827013/Community-involvement-a-key-to-protecting-vulnerable-adults
This article advises civilians on how to detect and report elder abuse. There is a new central intake desk that is open 24/7 to take reports.

18.       NEW YORK (Batavia), WHEC, March 28, 2012
Batavia woman indicted under new state law targeting elder abuse
http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2558072.shtml?cat=565
A Batavia woman has been indicted under a new state law targeting elder abuse. She’s accused of punching a 70-year-old greeter at Walmart on Christmas Eve. One of the two assault charges brought against the suspect brings into play a 2008 Elder Abuse Law, making it a felony to hit and cause injury to a person over the age of 65.

19.       NEW YORK (New York), CBS News, March 28, 2012
Paralyzed woman held captive and beaten by NY couple, police say
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57405687-504083/paralyzed-woman-held-captive-and-beaten-by-ny-couple-police-say/
A New York couple has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a partially paralyzed woman and controlling her finances for more than a year. A neighbor reported the situation to Adult Protective Services after hearing crying and whimpering from the home.

20.       TENNESSEE (Chattanooga), The Chattanoogan, March 27, 2012
Elder Abuse Training Offered For Law Enforcement
http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/3/27/222436/Elder-Abuse-Training-Offered-For-Law.aspx
The “Sarah Project” is a new program developed by the Partnership’s elder Services designed to provide Safety and Resources and Help (SARAH) for victims of elder abuse in Hamilton County ages 50 and above.

21.       TENNESSEE (Chattanooga), WRCBTV.com, March 28, 2012
Area law enforcement receives training in spotting elderly abuse
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/17272686/area-law-enforcement-receive-elderly-abuse-training
Local law enforcement are getting some training in how to spot elder abuse as part of a new program called the “Sarah Project.”

22.       UTAH (Ogden), Standard-Examiner, March 26, 2012
Caregiver accused of exploiting vulnerable adult, taking more than $5,000
http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/03/26/caregiver-accused-exploiting-vulnerable-adult-taking-more-5000
A caregiver of a vulnerable adult is accused of one count each of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult and unlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary, according to a criminal complaint. The charges are second-degree felonies.

23.       INTERNATIONAL (Warwickshire, United Kingdom), Leamington Observer, March 28, 2012
Pensioners being cheated out of savings

http://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/2012/03/28/news-Pensioners-being-cheated-out-of-savings-33991.html
Warwickshire County Council and Age UK Warwickshire are trying to educate the public about elder abuse and give several warning signs and resources for victims and their loved ones.

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National Center on Elder Abuse

Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect

University of California, Irvine

101 The City Drive South

Bldg 200, Suite 835

Orange, CA 92868

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