Tuesday, February 21, 2012

MN Victim's Family Pleased with Stronger Elder Abuse Laws

It's a story we've been following for more than three years now. A case of elder abuse that meant jail time for two young women. We're now learning if they comply with probation, Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson won't serve their final 60 days in jail.

Ever since their very high profile arrest, changes have been made to strengthen penalties in Minnesota.

Jan Reshetar's mother-in-law was a victim of this abuse, "You want to bring up a happy memory of your loved one and what you get is the last 3 and a half years of horror," she said. It's something she can't get out of her mind. Her mother-in-law was sexually abused at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Albert Lea in the months leading up to her death.

"When we first got into this whole situation we thought that justice would be swift and righteous but it doesn't work that way," said Reshetar. Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson received little jail time and community service, but avoided life-long penalties, like registering as sex offenders.

"That is something that we have wanted from the very beginning. Granted those are things that are after the fact but we would like to see harsher penalties," said Reshetar.

Six months ago a new law went into effect, which increases the penalty. "What it allows us to do is if a vulnerable adult is sexually abused, that abuse will have to be registered on the predatory offenders list," said (R) Rep. Tim Kelly back in May 2011.

Full Article and Source:
Victim's Family Pleased with Stronger Elder Abuse Laws

2 comments:

Norma said...

Good. Penalties need to be stronger and then they need to be enforced!

Thelma said...

They're stronger until the perps come up with another scheme - scam!