North Idaho Woman Receives An Unbelievably Light Sentence In Exploitation Case
Hey, it's just money...right? A story in today's Bonner County Daily Bee caught my attention and got my hackles up. Apparently, Elise Anne Davidson, of Spirit Lake, Idaho, has received no more than a "slap on the wrist" for her financial exploitation of an elderly man. You see, Ms. Davidson used a financial power of attorney to steal more than $4,000.00 from the victim while he was convalescing in a nursing home. She also apparently attempted to have the victim removed from the nursing home and placed in her care. The victim, who is unidentified in the story, was confined to a wheelchair and incapable of writing or speaking. Rightfully, Ms. Davidson was originally charged with a felony -- exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Unfortunately, through a plea agreement, she pled guilty to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. She was also ordered to pay the nursing home $1,000.00 in funds which the facility was owed.
When you look at it, I suppose it is easy to say that stealing $4,000.00 should not equate with a stiffer sentence than Ms. Davidson received. This is not about the money, however. This is about the exploitation of the vulnerable adult who was the victim in this case. What price can be placed on the betrayal of trust? Recall, I recently wrote about some prosecutors who are using "hate crime" laws to obtain stiffer sentences against those who financially exploit the elderly. Perhaps the prosecutors in Northern Idaho can take a hard look at how they deal with those who take advantage of the elderly and infirm.
It's not "just money." Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in general, and the elderly in particular, is about much, much more. Only when the perpetrators of such crimes are punished with stiff felony sentences will the message be properly sent.
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