A Marana woman who stole from the 85-year-old dementia patient she was caring for was sentenced to three years probation Monday in Pima County Superior Court.
Randi Lynn Hall, 27, was indicted in March on three child abuse counts and one count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Arizona Attorney General’s Office began investigating Hall after receiving information she might be taking financial advantage of the elderly man.
Detectives learned Hall had been hired by the victim’s daughters to care for the man and handle his finances.
An investigation revealed that after Hall, her children and boyfriend moved in with the man, Hall took out a $24,000 credit line and charged up an additional $9,600 in credit card debt. They also found out the man’s gold and silver collection was missing.
At the time of Hall’s arrest, Assistant Arizona Attorney General Jesse Delaney said detectives discovered Hall and her three daughters, ages 10 months, 5 and 6, were no longer living with the victim and had been living in a back yard in the open. The two older children were not enrolled in school, and all three girls were filthy, malnourished and wearing clothing inappropriate for the weather.
Hall pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse and one count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. She was facing a maximum prison sentence of four years.
Hall admitted she was addicted to prescription painkillers and she used the victim’s money to buy drugs and pay living expenses, court documents indicate.
Assistant Pima County Public Defender Kevin Burke asked Judge Howard Hantman to give Hall a chance on probation, saying the structure will help her deal with her issues.
Hall has remained free pending the resolution of her case and been monitored by the county’s pretrial division.
Delaney told Hantman Hall has not been complying with rules set down by pretrial services and asked for a prison sentence.
Hantman ordered Hall to pay more than $23,000 in restitution and put her “on notice” that if she violates her probation she will be going to prison.
Hall’s children now live with her parents and Child Protective Services has given her permission to have supervised visits with them.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com. On Twitter: KimSmithStar
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