INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 64-year-old man suspected by deputies of tricking his 92-year-old relative suffering dementia to sign over the deed to his home for a dollar, was arrested.
James Vernon Hodges
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputies said James Vernon Hodges took his relative to the Indian River County Courthouse June 2 to sign the deed over to Hodges’ name. The older man did not understand what he was doing, deputies report.
Deputies arrested Hodges, of the 4600 block of 33rd Avenue, Gifford, on charges of theft from person 65 or older, exploitation of the elderly or disabled, driving under the influence and driving with a permanently suspended driver’s license. Hodges was held Tuesday at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
The investigation began July 3rd when deputies responded to reports of exploitation of the elderly. Deputies spoke with the victim’s nephew, who is his main caregiver and power of attorney, reports show.
The nephew said his uncle uses a cane to walk, suffers from dementia and has diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Deputies learned the uncle had been diagnosed with dementia since 2015, reports show.
Deputies spoke with the uncle, who said he lived at the home with another relative named Hodges. The nephew told deputies that Hodges owed the uncle more than $2,000 in overdue rent, reports show.
The nephew also said he believed Hodges forged his name on documents to get the deed to the uncle’s single-family residence, deputies said. As of Tuesday, the county property appraiser’s site showed Hodges as the primary owner of the home.
Deputies obtained court documents that showed the uncle sold the home to Hodges for one dollar, reports show. Deputies searched the tax collector’s website and discovered the uncle and nephew were listed as owners of the $20,755 residence.
Deputies arrested Hodges and booked him into the county jail. Hodges was ordered to not have contact with the uncle.
Hodges has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. Sept. 10, court records show.
