Elder abuse is a crime that is taken seriously by the state of Iowa. Recently passed legislation makes the penalties for this offense even harsher, which makes it even more important to defend yourself if you have been accused and charged with this crime. A Des Moines criminal defense lawyer from our firm wants to hear about your case and help you avoid the harshest punishments.
Get Help TodayMany types of alleged behavior can get someone charged with elder abuse. Some common issues include:
Physical abuse: Hitting an elderly person or threatening them with violence is a crime.
Emotional abuse: You can also be charged with elder abuse for inflicting pain and anguish on a vulnerable senior.
Financial abuse: Stealing or concealing funds, properties, and other assets from an elderly person is financial abuse.
Abandonment or neglect: Refusing to provide food, shelter, and other protections for an elderly person in your care is clear abuse.
You can also be charged if you are accused of trying to take advantage of someone in some kind of legal way. A good example of this would be trying to get someone’s power of attorney or other means of controlling their finances or properties.
You can certainly go to jail if you are charged with elder abuse. The severity of the crime and the type of abuse are sure to play a role here, but even the least serious charge of elder abuse can result in jail time. Let’s look at some of the crimes against the elderly and how they could be punished:
Assault of an older individual: This crime can be charged as a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and $855 in fines. A charge can also be upgraded to a class D felony, depending on the circumstances. That can mean a five-year prison stay and up to $10,245 in fines.
Elder abuse: This charge can be a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and $2,560 in fines. It can also be upgraded to more serious misdemeanor or felony charges, topping out at a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $13,660 in fine.
Financial exploitation: Stealing from the elderly in this way can be charged as a serious misdemeanor or upgraded all the way to a class B felony. Those convicted can go away for up to 25 years.
If you want to learn more about what our seasoned defense attorneys can do for you, contact Herting Law, PLLC. We can schedule a consultation and hear you out about your situation. If we think that we can help you with your elder abuse case, we’ll get right to work.
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