Senior Care Worker Charged withThefts (Washington Country)

Senior care worker charged with thefts caught on tape

06:00 PM PDT on Thursday, May 22, 2008

By WAYNE HAVRELLY, kgw.com

Quanecka Thompson, 23, was arraigned on five counts of theft, one count of burglary and one count of criminal mistreatment.

Washington County Investigators say Thompson was caught taking money from a purse inside the Regency Park assisted living facility. Turns out that purse belonged to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and officers were watching her on hidden camera.
Investigators say she took the bait twice.
Some residents at Regency Park told us they were missing money in recent months and were shaken to learn one of the trusted employees at their facility may have been stealing from them.
Financial crimes against seniors are a growing problem but, most cases still go unreported.
“Usually there is an initial reluctance by the victim to go public because there might be some embarrassment”, said assistant Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton.
Senior abuse investigators say there's also reluctance to report these crimes because they usually involve a trusted family member, or a caregiver.

“Theres that whole issue of do i want to put a mark on my family. But you have to, because at some point someone has to stop it..someone has to step in and say this has gone on long enough and we have to make it end now,” said Senior abuse investigator Kevin Harper.
Washington County Investigators say officials at Regency park fully cooperated and actually helped set up the sting operation.

Our seniors spend a lifetime creating nest eggs and far to often, they lose those nest eggs when they need them most.
Thompson’s trial is scheduled for June 9th.

SOURCE: KGWnews



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