Woman faces felony elder exploitation charge

The Lincoln County Attorney’s Office filed an elder exploitation charge against a Libby woman for allegedly taking advantage of an 84-year-old Alzheimer’s patient who was under her care.

Jacqueline Curran, 61, pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of exploiting an older person. Curran is accused of manipulating Alvin Robinson into buying her appliances and furniture and giving her access to his bank account.

Prosecutors have used the elder exploitation charge sparingly in the past because it was not elevated to a felony until six years ago.

Even now, a theft charge is usually used because elder exploitation is difficult to prove, according to County Attorney Bernard Cassidy. Many times there are no competent witnesses or evidence.

“Part of the problem is proof,” Cassidy said, “but the facts of this case most closely fit.”

The alleged victims’ daughters, Marchette Robinson and Allene Liebenberg, hired Curran last spring to help their father around the house and to take him shopping, according to court documents. 

Marchette told police that her father bought Curran a cook stove and lawnmower with a Sears card that he applied for while Curran was caring for him. She also believed that Curran used his debit card and pin number to go on shopping trips and to withdraw over $1,200 in cash in July and August last year. According to Marchette, her father believed Curran was his girlfriend. 

In a November interview with police, Curran admitted that Robinson wanted their relationship to go further than a friendship, but that she “never let it go there.” Curran also admitted to allowing Robinson to give her cash, write her checks and buy her several things.

Curran told police that Robinson wanted to pay her more than her wages because he thought she was doing more than she should.

When asked if she saw conditions of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, she responded, “absolutely.” Curran told police that she was ashamed of what she did, but that she did not steal.   

Curran faces up to 10 years in prison and $50,000 in fines.