Employee accused of taking money from elderly people and stealing a wheelchair from a residential care center

NEW BOSTON, Texas – A man who allegedly “borrowed” hundreds of dollars from elderly residents of an area assisted living center where he worked in maintenance was arrested last week on multiple charges and is being held on bond in worth a total of almost half a million dollars.

In addition to multiple charges of elder exploitation, James Milton Guyton, 64, is also charged with theft in connection with a $3,000 electric wheelchair that he allegedly pawned from a business in Texarkana, Arkansas, and which was donated to the Autumn Wind Assisted Living Center in New Boston by the family of a former patient.

An 89-year-old Autumn Wind resident allegedly told investigators that Guyton entered her room on April 11 and asked to “borrow” $200, which she agreed to do “in her vulnerable state.”

A 72-year-old resident reported that Guyton had borrowed $200 from her in February “because his wife was sick,” and that on other occasions he had taken her debit card and used it to make purchases. Guyton is said to have “apologized” when asked to pay back the money.

An 81-year-old man told investigators he loaned Guyton $120 because Guyton told him his bank accounts had been frozen and he never paid the money back. An 88-year-old Autumn Hill resident reported that Guyton borrowed $450 from him in March and April, but it was never repaid.

Guyton is alleged to have accepted money from at least one of the residents – some of whom have fixed incomes – for work in the resident’s room, which was part of his duties and for which he was paid by the nursing home.

Guyton’s bond on each of the four operating charges is set at $100,000 and bond for the theft is set at $20, for a total bond of $420,000.

If convicted of exploitation, Guyton faces two years in prison on each charge. If found guilty of theft, he faces six months to two years in prison.