Norma Ladrera Azurin, 52, of Lacey, is charged with first-degree theft and obtaining a signature by deception or duress, court papers state. She has been summoned to appear for her arraignment Jan. 26 in Thurston County Superior Court.
Azurin could not be reached for comment Thursday.
According to court papers:
The man’s daughter hired Azurin as a private caregiver for her father in September 2008. In March 2009, Azurin began issuing herself checks drawn on the man’s accounts. The checks were in the amounts of $1,500, $1,000, $1,200, $485 and $850. The last check was cashed April 20.
The alleged victim was diagnosed in March as being in the early stages of dementia. His score on a mental status test in August showed a score “indicative of dementia or Alzheimer’s.” On Dec. 2, he took a mental status test and was unable to answer any of the questions.
During an interview with an Olympia police officer and an official from Adult Protective Services, Azurin “admitted that she had written the checks to herself, but that she had (the alleged victim) sign the checks.”
Azurin said she had been given the money as loans for auto repair and for a down payment on a new car, but she said “she had no proof that she had used the money as a down payment for a car.”
Azurin told the officer she was aware that it is not acceptable for a caregiver to receive gifts or money from a client.
“Furthermore, Ms. Azurin made statements indicating that some of the checks she had written to herself were done without (the alleged victim’s) knowledge. Ms. Azurin also admitted that (he) trusted her and that she knew that (he) ‘had confusion’ and would forget his medications and his bills.”
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465
jpawloski@theolympian.com
