Larceny charge dismissed against Falmouth man

Aug. 24--FALMOUTH -- A second charge against an East Falmouth man accused of stealing money from his mother has been dismissed in Falmouth District Court, according to court documents.

Robert Erbetta, 58, initially was charged with embezzlement or misapplication by a fiduciary and larceny over $1,200. The embezzlement charge had been dismissed Feb. 13, and the larceny charge was dismissed Thursday, court records show.

Erbetta took over power of attorney for his mother, who has been diagnosed with dementia, in 2012 and shortly afterward his mother took out a reverse mortgage on her home, according to a police report. Erbetta used his mother's Social Security income and reverse mortgage to pay his utilities while living in the house rent-free, the report says.

The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office received a report from Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands in January that the mother was being financially exploited by her son.

According to the police report, $163,000 was taken from the reverse mortgage since February 2016. Many of the payments did directly benefit the mother for her rehabilitation facility, prescriptions and assisted living care, the report notes. More than $17,000 was paid out from the mother's bank account, mostly in utility payments or checks made out to Erbetta, the report says.

___

(c)2019 Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.

Visit Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. at www.capecodtimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.