DA: Pledges Prosecution Of Elder Financial Abuse Cases

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office has charged a Dartmouth woman with financial elder abuse.

Patricia Jackson was arraigned Friday in New Bedford District Court on charges of committing abuse and neglect on an elderly person and larceny.

Prosecutors say Jackson had the power of attorney to pay bills for her ex-husband who was living in an assisted living facility and suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The D-A's Office says Jackson recently stopped paying those bills, and her ex-husband was forced to leave the assisted living home and ended up at a hospital.

D-A Thomas Quinn says Jackson was arrested on Thursday. "These are serious matters and obviously everyone is entitled to due process and fair treatment in the system, but we're going to process these cases and hold these people accountable for this egregious conduct in some cases," said Quinn. He says the financial abuse cases are not easy, but must be dealt with.

Jackson entered a not guilty plea, and bail was set at $2,500. Its the first case handled by a special elder abuse unit formed by the D-A.