Carson City, Nevada - Friday, Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced that Sheri Hines, 49, was arrested in Douglas County on three felony counts related to an elder exploitation case. The charges against Hines include one count of Theft of an Older Person, one count of Embezzlement of an Older Person, and one count of Exploitation of an Older Person, all category “B” felonies. The acts were allegedly committed between January 2017 and June 2017.

According to the criminal complaint, Hines allegedly used a debit card entrusted to her for providing for the care of her mother, a person over the age of 60 years, for her personal use, and not for providing for the care and comfort of her mother. The victim of these alleged fraudulent acts suffered a loss of more than $5,000.00.

“My office takes a firm stance against elder exploitation, and continues to work towards protecting our most vulnerable populations,” said Laxalt.

In July, 2016, the Nevada Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee unanimously approved AG Laxalt’s request to combat increasing financial fraud within the State using non-taxpayer settlement funds awarded to his Office. AG Laxalt’s request included the allocation of more than $400,000 of non-taxpayer settlement funds to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada in order to boost their capacity to fight civil guardianship exploitation and abuse. In the 2017 Legislative Session, AG Laxalt received approval to allocate approximately $250,000 in non-taxpayer settlement funds to Washoe County Legal Services which provides pro-bono legal support to Nevada’s rural counties.

The State of Nevada v. Hines criminal complaint represents the seventh elder exploitation case criminally charged by the Office of the Nevada Attorney General. This case was investigated and is being prosecuted by the Office of the Nevada Attorney General’s Financial Fraud Unit. A criminal complaint is merely a charging document; every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.