Two Charged With Elder Abuse

By DOANE YAWGERdyawger@mercedsun-star.com

California .. A woman and her boyfriend have been arrested by sheriff's detectives on charges of taking more than $52,000 from a 73-year-old Merced resident.

Christine Rodriguez, 49, and Joe Talman, 35, both of Merced, were charged with embezzlement, forgery, identity theft and financial elder abuse, Detective Scott Dover of the Merced County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday.

Dover said criminal charges will be filed with the Merced County District Attorney's Office today in connection with the case, reported at the end of May.

Rodriguez, the woman's daughter, and Talman were arrested at 1:30 p.m. Monday by Dover, who served warrants signed by Merced County Superior Court Judge John Kirihara.
Both remained in Merced County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $150,000 bail each, Dover said.
Dover said the woman's family approached the department in May when the property owner where the woman lived reported bounced checks.

During the investigation, it was determined $30,000 in property was missing from the residence, along with $5,000 in cash, $9,600 in unauthorized credit-bank transactions and $7,000 in new accounts opened without authorization.

Rodriguez and Talman moved from Washington to Merced in 2006 to care for the woman. She is being cared for now by other family members, Dover said.

It appeared many of the stolen property items were pawned or sold at flea markets, Dover said.
Associate Editor Doane Yawger can be reached at 209-385-2485 or dyawger@mercedsun-star.com.