Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Indiana Cop Cops Plea To Ripping Off Now-Deceased 89-Year Old Alzheimer's Victim Of Home, Cash

In Gary, Indiana, the Post Tribune reports:
  • Gary police Sgt. Joshua Wiley admitted he stole money and a home from his former neighbor who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and dementia and has agreed to repay $116,765 to the woman's estate. On the day his jury trial was scheduled to begin, Wiley pleaded guilty [...] to two felony charges -- theft and exploitation of an endangered adult.(1)

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  • In court, Wiley admitted he knew that his former neighbor, Helen Chentnik, who died Dec. 22, 2006, at age 89, was an endangered adult who was not competent to make financial decisions on her own behalf. [...] Wiley obtained a fraudulent quit claim deed to Chentnik's home at 3630 E. 12th Ave., Gary and recorded the deed, knowing that it was signed by him while claiming to have Chentnik's power of attorney.(2)

For the story, see Gary police officer says he stole home, money of Helen Chentnik who suffered from Alzheimer's.

(1) Reportedly, under terms of the plea agreement, which Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell took under advisement, Wiley will be sentenced to eight years -- three years in the Lake County Community Correction Kimbrough Work Program and five years suspended and served on probation. The plea agreement calls for Wiley to serve his probation and Kimbrough Center sentence simultaneously. Wiley, 51, also must pay $53,255 within 30 days and the remaining $62,765 in monthly installments of $1,000, also starting within 30 days.

(2) According to the story, Wiley also looted Chentnik's credit union account "by using his influence on the victim or by using an ATM-debit card issued to the victim" to withdraw cash or buy items and services for his personal use without Chentnik's consent, according to the plea agreement. Wiley then reportedly opened a joint checking account for Chentnik and himself at Mercantile National Bank, deposited the woman's monthly Social Security and pension checks and funds from her credit union account, and then made withdrawals in cash and wrote checks for goods and services, the majority of which were for his personal use. FinancialAbuseOfElderlyAlpha DeedContraTheft