By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
A Yukon man faces 20 years in prison for exploiting an elderly person under his care, allegedly admitting he spent some of the victim’s money on his failed restaurant business.
Costa Anthony Neumann, 64, was charged Dec. 30, 2020 in Canadian County District Court with two felony counts – exploitation by caretaker and neglect by caretaker. Each count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a maximum $10,000 fine.
Neumann’s alleged victim was a “vulnerable adult entrusted to his care” at a Briarwood Drive home, according to court documents. The individual died Jan. 5, 2020.
Prosecutors allege the defendant “unjustly or improperly” used the victim’s financial resources “through deception, false representation or false pretense.”
Neumann is further accused of “failing to provide adequate care resulting in harm or the unreasonable risk of harm” to the victim “through inaction or lack of supervision,” court documents show.
The alleged crimes, reported between March 2016 and January 2020, were investigated by Yukon Police.
Allegations against Neumann are detailed in a probable cause affidavit signed by Det. Terry Prigmore.
A witness in late December 2019 went to the defendant’s home and found the victim sitting naked on a “urine-stained towel on the couch”, according to the affidavit.
The witness called 911 and an ambulance took the victim to the hospital, where her body core temperature reportedly was 88.7 degrees.
When the police investigator went to Neumann’s home to speak with him, the detective was “immediately overwhelmed with the strong odor of urine and body odor.”
NO MONEY FOR MEDICAL CARE?
Neumann had no answer after being asked why he did not call 911 when the victim hadn’t moved in two days, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
The defendant told Det. Prigmore he had not requested professional help for the victim because “there was no money for medical care,” the affidavit indicates.
In reviewing the victim’s bank statements, police learned the accounts were opened in March 2016 with a combined $116,703 balance – but the money was now gone.
In an interview with the detective, Neumann allegedly “admitted using some of the money to fund his failing restaurant business” but he could not specify expenses he paid for the victim’s care.
Cash withdrawals from the victim’s bank accounts totaled about $102,000, and Neumann allegedly “could not specify as to what the money was spent on.”
The defendant reportedly told the police investigator he was unable to move or lift the victim as her condition worsened.
Canadian County Special Judge Charles Gass has issued a warrant for Neumann’s arrest, setting bond at $10,000.
