Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

I have been working for an elderly man for almost 10 years. Not as his caregiver, or at least not in the beginning, but in an administrative position. He still goes to work every day. During the 9+ years I have been with him, we have become good friends. He wanted me to move in with him for about 3-4 years, but due to my circumstances, it wasn't feasible. However, in the last year he has started to show signs (he is 94 years old!) that he needed me there, ie. he fell a couple of times, got in a car accident, etc. I finally decided that I needed to move in with him to watch out for him. I did so. We went and bought me a bed, I moved all of my belongings in, etc. One day I came home and everything I owned had been taken by his business partner, the locks were changed and I was completely flabbergasted. My "boss" said "he was sorry and that Al (his business partner) had come in and taken everything. Al had made a pass at me a few years prior, which I turned down and never really gave it a second thought, although Al had changed his attitude towards me, it didn't change my relationship with "my boss", so I didn't let it bother me. My boss has said that he is "afraid" of Al and that Al would withhold monies due him if my boss didn't go along with him. There are millions at stake, but I don't have any impact on that, but my boss being 94 has been brainwashed into thinking that Al can, in fact, withhold money. My boss feels terrible and has encouraged me to call the police and has said at that time he would tell the police that Al intimidated him into letting him into his apt. to take my things. My question is, is I file a police report, which I haven't wanted to do, but which I definitely will, will it affect my boss? Will they arrest him also? This man came in a took my things - we are talking $1,000's of dollars worth of things. Computer, laptops, video cameras, etc., etc.. I don't want my boss involved, because I believe that his partner is taking advantage of him because of his age. Now that I am no longer in his life, he has not replaced me with anybody to help him, so most likely something is going to happen to him. I don't want to bring stress to my boss, but I guess I don't have any choice. Any suggestions?


Asked on 7/24/09, 6:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

This is a serious situation. Yes, you should definitely go to the police, both as to the theft of your property and as to the financial elder abuse of your boss. The police will know whom to notify about the issues with your poor boss. God only knows what financial games have gone on in the business with "Al" at the helm. Based upon what you have said, I suspect your boss's property is not safe and he may not be either. There may need to be a conservatorship put in place to protect him. Has he no family you could notify of what has gone on? And no, Al will not get into trouble. He did nothing. Good luck.

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Answered on 7/24/09, 7:29 pm


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