[Vision2020] Judge finds probable cause in neglectful death case

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (October 31, 2014) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Judge finds probable cause in neglectful death case
Winter, Wright scheduled for Nov. 10 arraignment for roles in death of elderly Moscow man in their care
The two Moscow locals accused of neglect and exploitation of a vulnerable adult sat Thursday afternoon during a preliminary hearing in a Latah County courtroom and listened to testimony describing the deplorable conditions Lee Pohrman was allegedly subjected to while under their care.
Lindsey Winter, 21, and Charles Wright, 24, both of Moscow, were both bound over to district court and will now appear at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10 for arraignment on three charges related to the Nov. 3 death of the 67-year-old Moscow man. If not guilty pleas are entered, a trail date will be set.
Both are facing charges of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult, exploitation of a vulnerable adult and fraudulently obtaining welfare or public assistance.
The results of an autopsy indicated that Pohrman had died from starvation. According to testimony from Francis Spain, Pohrman's primary care provider at Moscow Family Medicine between January 2009 and April 2011, Pohrman weighed a healthy 162 pounds the last time he saw him in April.
At the time of his death, he weighed only 97 pounds.
Pohrman had been residing at Good Samaritan at the skilled nursing level where he received 24-hour treatment and supervision, Spain said.
He said Pohrman suffered from a stroke on the right side of his brain that had paralyzed his left hand and only allowed partial mobility of his left leg. He was primarily wheelchair-bound and suffered from chronic hypertension, bipolar affective disorder and a neurogenic bladder condition, among other medical issues, Spain said.
Spain said Pohrman moving out of the assisted care facility and into the care of Winter and Wright was against medical recommendation.
At the time of his death, Pohrman had been living with the pair for two to two-and-a-half years, according to testimony from two Moscow Police Department staff based on their interviews with the defendants.
Lead detective on the case, David Hathaway, of the MPD, said during a span of 33 months, $40,450 in checks had allegedly been written to Winter and Wright for the care and services provided to Pohrman.
Wright claimed receiving $400 a month as payment from Pohrman for caretaking, but he would also get other checks throughout the month for other expenses from Pohrman, Hathaway said. Hathaway said the majority of the larger checks of more than $1,000 were written in the last six months of Pohrman's life.
Hathaway said at $400 a month, Wright should have only received $13,200 over 33 months. Hathaway said the handwriting varied enough on the checks that it was clear more than one person was filling them out. Testimony from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also showed inconsistencies with the defendants' incomes in applications for assistance and food stamps.
"I would hope some of this went to the care of Mr. Pohrman," he said. "It's safe to say not much did because of his condition."
MPD officer Shane Keen, the first responder at Pohrman's death, said Pohrman was very skinny, nude except for an adult diaper, had matted hair, was covered in dirt and had finger and toenails more than an inch long when he was found dead. The house was allegedly covered in garbage, stains, dirty plates and bowls, and it was clear Pohrman's mattress and comforter had not been cleaned in a very long time, he said. There were also bottles and a bucket of a dark colored liquid in his bedroom.
"It was one of the messiest residences I've ever been in," he said.
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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
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