Charges reduced against Augusta man in elderly exploitation case

April 19--An Augusta man accused of exploitation of an elderly person by using money set aside for his mother's care pleaded guilty Wednesday to reduced charges.

John B. Weigle Jr. pleaded in Richmond County Superior Court to eight counts of misdemeanor theft by deception. Judge John Flythe accepted the negotiated sentence and sentenced him to serve eight years on probation and to pay $1,600.

Assistant District Attorney John Bell told the judge that he agreed to reduce the felony charge against Weigle to misdemeanors because of Weigle's lack of criminal history and because he has already paid more than $100,000 in restitution.

Exploitation of an elderly or disabled person is a felony punishable by 1-20 years.

An additional requirement of the plea negotiation is that Weigle will not serve a fiduciary role for his mother again.

In 2012, Weigle assumed power of attorney for his mother, Bell said. He used that position to take money set aside for her care and used it for himself and his immediate family. Last year, his siblings learned about the misappropriation when they found out their mother was about to be evicted from her personal care home for Bell said.

According to an earlier report in The Augusta Chronicle, the home was owed $40,000.

Defense attorney Jack Long told the judge that Weigle should have followed the practice of attorneys in setting up separate accounts for his own money and his mother's. Instead he co-mingled the money.

"He made a bad mistake," Long said.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or [email protected].

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