Idaho caregiver who neglected, stole from elderly couple sentenced to 18 months

An Ada County woman who was found guilty in December of two felonies related to her role as a caregiver for an elderly couple was sentenced to 18 months in prison Friday, according to a press release from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.

Sherri Watring, 53, was convicted last year of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm and exploitation of a vulnerable adult in excess of $1,000. She also was found guilty of misdemeanor petit theft. The crimes occurred between January 2016 and February 2018, according to prosecutors.

Watring was an elderly Idaho couple’s caregiver for roughly seven years, and when the male victim died in early 2018, she had him cremated and then spread his ashes, without the family’s knowledge, the release said. The man was a decorated World War II veteran.

Watring was found guilty of neglecting the female victim by failing to provide adequate nutrition and by performing improper medical treatments. The woman died in June 2018, and Watring had stolen in excess of $1,000 from the couple, a jury found.

Ada County prosecutors argued for a sentence of 10 years in prison, with two years fixed, but 4th District Judge Jason Scott settled on 18 months in prison before Watring will be eligible for parole.

“We hope (Watring) will spend her time in detention reflecting on the actions that placed her there,” the victims’ family said in the release.