GARY, Ind. – A Gary Police officer who admitted he drained an elderly Alzheimer’s disease sufferer’s credit union account of $117,000 last week asked a state court to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he was under duress when he made the admission.
Lt. Joshua Wiley last week told a state judge he signed the plea agreement only after being told his wife would be charged in the case and that he would face three additional charges.
Wiley told authorities he emptied 89-year-old Helen Chentnik's U.S. FCU account between Dec. 27, 2002, and Sept. 3, 2005, by using his influence on the elderly victim or by using her ATM-debit card to withdraw cash or buy items and services without Chentnik's consent. He also obtained a fraudulent quit claim deed to Chentnik's home and recorded the deed, knowing that it was signed by him while claiming to have Chentnik's power of attorney. Authorities said Wiley put Chentnik in a Gary nursing home and abandoned her there.
Wiley, who has been on paid administrative leave since the case was filed in November 2006, also said the $1,000 a month he is paying toward the $116,765 in restitution has caused a financial burden for him.
Chentnik died Dec. 22, 2006 at 89.
Wiley, a 21-year veteran of the Gary Police Department, admitted in court Sept. 21 he knew his neighbor was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease and was not competent to make financial decisions on her own behalf. He admitted between Dec. 27, 2002, and Sept. 23, 2005, he stole money from her credit union account to buy items or services for his own personal use.
He also admitted he opened a joint checking account for himself and Chentnik, deposited her monthly Social Security and pension checks and transferred money from her credit union account.
