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agate
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Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 5694
Location: Oregon
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 Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:21 pm Post subject: (News item) Caregiver fleeces 3 clients with MS |
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From the Jackson (Michigan)Citizen Patriot, August 17, 2006:
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Caregiver fleeces three clients
Thursday, August 17, 2006
By Steven Hepker
shepker@citpat.com -- 768-4923
A Jackson woman who was a caregiver for three women with multiple sclerosis ended up being more of a taker.
Kerri Lynn Clark, 20, was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail. She pleaded guilty to using a credit card without consent.
Investigators say Clark siphoned $600 from Carol Krawczak's bank account using her debit card, plus charged $400 to her credit card.
Krawczak and two other women with multiple sclerosis live together and require help around the clock. Clark started working for the women in January, running errands and helping around the house.
Krawczak gave Clark her debit card to pick up prescriptions. Clark later raided her account.
The housemates are taking it hard. The crime is one matter, they say. The deeper meaning is the threat to their independence.
"Living independently is incredibly important," Krawczak said in a statement read by friend Lisa Butterfield. "Because of my situation, my voice and the voices of those like me sometimes get lost."
Kaye Whitaker, who lives with Krawczak and also uses a wheelchair, said Clark's misdeeds took away a sense of freedom.
"We joined together to try to live independently, so it makes me sad to know we are so vulnerable," she said.
Clark has a criminal background and already was serving 180 days in jail for probation violation on a previous stolen-credit case.
"This is your last chance short of prison," Circuit Judge Chad Schmucker told Clark.
Because she has been in jail 90 days already, she will now serve 180 more, Schmucker said.
Assistant Prosecutor Nick Mehalco Jr. asked for a stiffer sentence because Clark has a habit of stealing credit cards.
He said she has proved heartless.
"It is morally reprehensible to take advantage of someone in Carol's situation," Mehalco said.
Schmucker scolded Clark for preying on a "clearly vulnerable" person.
"I'm getting help," Clark said.
"You are getting 180 days of help," Schmucker said.
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lady_express_44
Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 1314
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:06 am Post subject: |
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How LOW can we go?
Cherie
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You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
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agate
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Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 5694
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:38 am Post subject: |
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I find this story very believable, unfortunately.
I have had caregivers for many years, and many (maybe most) of them have a lot of hostility towards their clients. With some it's right out in the open, but with most it's something you find out about as time goes on and the attitude starts to show.
It seems to be related to envy. Some of them have told me that they don't see why they're having to ruin their health doing errands and essential housework for disabled/elderly people, when they have a pretty good idea that when their time comes, and they are disabled and/or elderly, the system won't be there any more to help them. They're convinced that this is how it will be.
So it's not surprising that some of them go another step in this thought process and figure they're "entitled" to take whatever they can get, while they can get it, from clients.
I have two neighbors who have had cash taken from their apartments by caregivers. |
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lady_express_44
Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 1314
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that many of these people would not be highly educated and on a fairly low income too?
Cherie
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You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
Naguib Mahfouz |
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agate
Site Admin
Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 5694
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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They're definitely poorly paid, with almost no benefits. I sympathize completely with their attitude (though not with the theft part  ) and I wish I didn't have to use them. |
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