State Rep. Tom Leonard
State Rep. Tom Leonard has introduced legislation to strengthen the ability of the courts to impose stricter sentences upon those who embezzle from vulnerable adults – the elderly or mentally handicapped.
House Bill 4264 would allow judges to impose sentences consecutively on defendants convicted of multiple offenses under the Vulnerable Adult Embezzlement Statute. Currently the law excludes the imposition of consecutive sentences against those found guilty under this statute.
“I believe the number one duty of government is the protection of its people, especially our most vulnerable,” said Leonard, R-Dewitt Township. “This bill gives judges the authority to give longer sentences to those that prey on the elderly and handicapped.”
Under the general embezzlement statute, judges have the discretion to impose consecutive sentencing but this discretion was left out of the statute pertaining to vulnerable adult embezzlement cases. The bill would bring the vulnerable adult embezzlement statute up to date with the general embezzlement statutes.