Opinion ID: 2212403
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: whether sufficient evidence existed to convict warren of theft by exploitation of a disabled adult.

Text: Warren was found guilty of three counts of grand theft by exploitation of a disabled adult in violation of SDCL 22-46-3, which provides: Any person who, having assumed the duty by written contract, by receipt of payment for care, or by order of a court to provide for the support of a disabled adult and having been entrusted with the property of that disabled adult, with intent to defraud, appropriates such property to a use or purpose not in the due and lawful execution of his trust, is guilty of theft by exploitation. Theft by exploitation is punishable pursuant to the provisions of § 22-30A-17. Exploitation, as that term is used in SDCL 22-46-3, is defined as, the wrongful taking or exercising of control over property of a disabled adult with intent to defraud him of it. SDCL 22-46-1(3). We hold that Warren's acquisition of funds belonging to Hess, in the counts alleged, constituted a violation of the statute. With respect to the $1,000 Christmas gift, Warren was able to obtain this amount while Hess was in the Ft. Meade hospital in ICU for a life-threatening condition. She took advantage of his poor state of health and her trust relationship to acquire the $1,000. Regarding the $24,000 mortgage check, Warren testified that her mortgage was actually $1,950 less than that amount. She kept the extra money and did not inform Hess of it. Additionally, Hess testified that he just laughed at Warren when she would ask him to pay off her mortgage. Additionally, the testimony of Hess' nephew, Grudum, indicated that Warren told him that she was going to get Hess to pay off her mortgage. She used her position of trust to obtain the money to pay off the mortgage, which he otherwise appeared not willing to pay, in addition to an extra $1,950 above the mortgage. With respect to the $2,000 rent check obtained on January 28, 1988, Warren testified that this was for February rent. She testified that she was charging additional money for extra care. State's evidence indicated that the extra care pertained to his bedwetting. Consequently, as State points out, Warren was charging prospectively for February bedwetting. Additionally, Grudum testified that she informed him that she charged Hess more than the other tenants because he could afford it. Mrs. Hammer testified that during a conversation with Warren, Warren informed Mrs. Hammer that she was going to get all she could out of Hess because it all went for taxes anyway. Knowing that Hess was not in a sufficiently healthy condition to refuse such charges and unable to look for housing elsewhere, by virtue of her position of trust, she was able to obtain the additional charges. Hess did not have any relatives in the area to care for him or to consult with on such matters. He had only two living relatives, neither of which even lived in this state. Both parties essentially agree that Hess was disabled and had to rely on someone for his care. The evidence indicated that when Hess went to Denver to have his pacemaker implanted he did not want anyone else but Warren to go with him, thereby exhibiting his trust and reliance on her for certain emotional needs. Hess' testimony at trial concerning a question asked by the State as to why he would pay her such a large amount for bedwetting he testified, No other choice. Nothing else I can do, evidencing that Hess had nowhere else to turn. He either had to use a walker or wheelchair to be mobile. As testified to by Mrs. Hammer, Hess was not accustomed to giving people such large gifts. She testified that she recalled monetarily he would give $10 as a gift to a relative or friend on holidays or birthdays. On one occasion he gave a used colored TV as a wedding gift. In addition, Warren concedes that she assisted Hess in actually writing out checks, helping him purchase CD's, taking interest checks to the bank, recording transactions in his ledger, and filling out deposit slips, thereby having some control over the documentation and recording of his finances. Hess was almost totally dependent on Warren for his survival. In determining the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, the question is whether there is evidence in the record sufficient to sustain a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, if believed by the jury. This court accepts that evidence and the most favorable inferences that can be fairly drawn therefrom, which support the verdict. See State v. Miller, 429 N.W.2d 26, 38 (S.D.1988). See also State v. Jenner, 451 N.W.2d 710 (S.D.1990). We hold that the jury in this case could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Warren, by virtue of her position of trust, was able to exploit funds accumulated and saved by Hess in violation of the trust instilled in her by Hess. [8] We have considered the other issues raised by Warren and find them to be lacking in merit. Affirmed in part and reversed in part. WUEST, MORGAN and SABERS, JJ., concur. HENDERSON, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.