Son convicted of elder abuse and theft

Welland woman, 94, had account drained to feed drug habit

A son who helped himself to his elderly mother’s bank account to buy drugs while the 94-year-old lived in squalor and filth has been sentenced to two years behind bars.

Joseph Ermacora pleaded guilty in a Welland court at an earlier date to charges of theft over $5,000 and failing to provide the necessities of life.

At his sentencing hearing earlier this month, the 58-year-old was sentenced to two years less a day in custody. He was also placed on probation for three years and ordered to repay his mother’s estate.

Court heard Ermacora’s mother had diminished cognitive and physical abilities and was being cared for by his sister in the family home in Welland. Her daughter died unexpectedly in July 2017 and a family friend was to be granted power of attorney. Five days after his sister’s death, however, the defendant took his mother to a lawyer where she appointed him as her legal guardian.

The woman, who was confined to a wheelchair, gave her son her bank card and PIN number so he could purchase food and other essentials for the home. She wasn’t aware that Ermacora was making daily withdrawals to support his drug addiction.

Over a 12-week period, court heard, the balance of one of her accounts went from more than $43,000 to $150.

Niagara Regional Police were called to the home for a welfare check in October 2017 and found the woman living in filth.

The interior of the home was in a complete state of disarray and the electricity had been shut off due to lack of payment. The temperature in Welland that day was

12 C.

Ermacora, together with three other people, were passed out in the basement. Used and packaged syringes were found in the basement. Also found, court was told, were piles of dirty laundry which appeared to be “rotting” on the floor.

The woman was removed from the home and admitted to hospital. She died the following month.

Court heard there is no proof the poor care she received from her son attributed to her death.