November 10, 2016
Katy Sterio, who was granted probation in 2013 after scamming an elderly man out of more than $20,000, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for continuing to engage in criminal conduct.
In August, Sterio pleaded no contest to multiple counts of credit card theft, identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card in four separate incidents that took place this year. In 2013, she pleaded guilty to theft charges after convincing the elderly man to help pay for her nonexistent medical bills. She was granted probation after agreeing to repay the man.
However, on Wednesday, Judge Glenn Kim revoked her probation and sentenced her as a repeat offender. Deputy prosecutor Scott Spallina, head of the prosecutor’s Elder Abuse Unit, handled all of the cases. The crime committed by Sterio was inhumane and selfish. Stealing from a vulnerable old man is an awful crime, and one that deserves conviction.
Unfortunately, these sorts of crimes are becoming more and more heard of these days. It’s so important to keep an eye on family members if they live independently. You wouldn’t want one of your parents, or grandparents, being scammed like this.
Some people have already taken measures to try and prevent this by purchasing their loved ones a mobile phone from websites like www.fanmisenior.com. This will allow families to keep regular contact with their elderly relatives.
Elderly people are often much more vulnerable when they’re living alone, that’s why technology is so beneficial. Having mobile phones, laptops or even tablets can give elderly people a method of communication with their family, particularly if family live far away. You can see this in recent years with some services offering to teach senior citizens how to use the new technologies such as mobile phones, computers, and smart home devices. You can read about the different benefits of alexa skills for elderly here.
Giving an elderly member of the family a phone call every day to check up on them and ensure they’re doing well, could prevent anything like this happening to any of our loved ones. It would also be sensible to make sure that your elderly loved ones have a home insurance plan in place, as elderly people are often targets for burglaries, especially if you are giving them technology such as mobiles or laptops. You can click here to learn more about how home insurance could protect them from losses of belongings.
Ultimately, if your elderly relatives aren’t safe when living on their own, then they need support. That doesn’t necessarily mean they need to live in an elderly home though, which is something that so many elderly people want to avoid for as long as possible. Alternatively, they could visit somewhere like this senior center in San Marcos which offers the opportunity to meet new friends and enjoy social and recreational programs whilst also being cared for and monitored.
Woman Who Preyed on Elderly Man Receives 10-Year Sentence – Media Release (PDF)
