Meridian caregiver charged with stealing from elderly man

Bernice Rangel, 41, is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a 78-year-old Eagle man for whom she was providing in-home care, the Ada County Sheriff's Office reports.

Rangel is charged with felony abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult. She turned herself in at the Ada County Jail Wednesday and left the next afternoon after posting a $50,000 bond. Rangel has a preliminary hearing set for May 26.

Detectives began their investigation in February after some reported suspicious withdrawals from the man’s financial accounts and charges to his credit cards for items he did not need, the sheriff's office reports.

Investigators found evidence of tens of thousands of dollars being paid to Rangel from the man’s financial accounts since at least August 2014 — funds that more than doubled what Rangel’s time sheets indicated her earnings should be. Detectives also found evidence Rangel used the man’s credit cards to pay her utility bills and purchase items such as car tires and women’s clothes.

Ada County prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Rangel on May 9. The felony crime of abuse, exploitation on neglect of a vulnerable adult is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 8:08 PM with the headline "Meridian caregiver charged with stealing from elderly man."