State v. Gibson

186 So. 3d 772, 2015 La.App. 4 Cir. 0682, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 147, 2016 WL 358636
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 27, 2016
DocketNo. 2015-KA-0682
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 186 So. 3d 772 (State v. Gibson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Gibson, 186 So. 3d 772, 2015 La.App. 4 Cir. 0682, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 147, 2016 WL 358636 (La. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

DENNIS R. BAGNERIS, SR.,'Judge.

| TDefendant, Philip Gibson, appeals his conviction on charges of exploitation of persons with infirmities, a violation of La. R.S. 14:93.4. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

STATEMENT OF CASE

On June 16, 2011, the defendant, Philip Gibson, was indicted on one count of exploitation of the infirmed, in violation of La. R.S. 14:93.4. The indictment alleged that between July 2009 and May 2011, defendant .used a power of attorney to access accounts of the victim, Thelma Sea-bolt, an aged and infirmed person, for his own profit or advantage by means of fraudulent conduct, practices or representations. The defendant entered a plea of not guilty. On October 12, 2011, he elected-a bench trial.

On November 16, 2012, the trial court allotted the case to another section upon consideration of a motion to recuse the Orleans Parish Criminal District RCourt En Banc filed on behalf of the State through the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.1

On February 15, 2012, the trial' court granted defense counsel’s Motion to Withdraw. The court then appointed the Orleans Public Defender’s Office to represent defendant. On January 16, 2013, the defendant’s appointed counsel filed a motion [775]*775for a jury trial. The motion was denied on March 25, 2013. •

On January 6, 2014, the defendant filed a pro se motion to quash due to improper venue. His counsel filed a motion to vacate all actions taken by the trial judge to whom the case had been allotted in October 2011. The matter was then re-alloted to another section of court. Thereafter, the defendant’s motion to quash, motion to declare the allotment system unconstitutional, and motion to reduce bond were denied on June 9,2014.

Defendant’s three-day bench trial began on September 22, 2014. At the conclusion of the trial, defendant was found guilty as charged. Subsequently, the State filed a multiple bill of information.

On November 3, 2014, the trial court denied defendant’s motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal and sentenced defendant to eight years at hard labor, with credit for time served. The trial court then adjudged the defendant a quadruple offender. It vacated the original sentence and re-sentenced the defendant to twenty years at hard labor. The present motion for appeal followed.

STATEMENT OF FACT

The following testimony was adduced at trial.

| sKeith Herr, an American Express representative, identified exhibits introduced by the State as copies of records belonging to the account of Thelma M. Seabolt.2

Anthony Dillman a senior investigator for financial crimes involving CitiBank, identified CitiBank Mastercard records of accounts that belonged to Thelma M. Sea-bolt and her husband, John E. Seabolt.

Amy Lyons, an operations officer with Fifth District Savings' Bank, identified withdrawal records from the Seabolts’ accounts. The records included an October 26, 2009 withdrawal of $7,084.28 from an IRA account that belonged to Mrs. Seabolt and a November 25, 2009 withdrawal of $2,084.00, the balance of that account. Ms. Lyons maintained that the withdrawals were accomplished through the power of attorney the defendant had from Mrs. Sea-bolt. Ms. Lyons also identified documentation from July 27, 2010. Those documents depicted the closing of another IRA account that belonged to Mrs. Seabolt in the amount of $16,257.85. Again, the defendant completed the transaction via his power of attorney. Ms. Lyons also authenticated withdrawals .and closing of certificate of deposits the defendant completed in the name of Mrs. Seabolt, allegedly through the power of attorney. The transactions included the following dates and amounts:

January 7,2010 $34,085.99
February 22,2010 $ 8,329.35
March 11,2010 , $ 2,207.76
March 17,- 2010 $12,999.99
April 19,2010 $17,771.43
May 18, 2010 $15,000.00
June 15,2010 $19,320.36

[ 4Ms. Lyons noted that documentation of the May 18, 2010 and June 15, 2010 transactions in the amounts of $15,000.00 and $19,320.36, respectively, indicated: ' “For further credit if applicable. Endorsed to Love Outreach Fellowship.” Ms. Lyons said these transactions had not been brought to her attention as they occurred.

The State’s next witness, Tom Murray, a Chase Bank Branch Manager, identified certain Chase business records. Tliese records included a signature card with Thelma Seabolt, Terry Lynn Boudreaux, Mrs. Seabolt’s niece, and the defendant as authorized signatories. He also identified copies of every check written against that [776]*776account. Mr. Murray acknowledged that the bank held the funds in a joint account, meaning that Mrs. Seabolt, Ms.-- Bou-dreaux, and the defendant had equal access to the account.

Mr. Mario Bogran, employed by the Whitney Bank as a senior investigator in the corporate security department; identified Whitney Bank records. He testified the records were copies of bank statements and checks cashed against that account. The account in question listed the defendant and John Edgar Seabolt as holders of the account. Mr. Bogran also identified a power of attorney Ms. Seabolt had given to the defendant. The power of attorney reflected defendant’s Texas address, social security number, and date of birth.

James Ledoux, in-house counsel for the First NBC Bank, testified that his responsibilities included regular review of bank documents. He authenticated copies of banking documents which showed Love Outreach Fellowship as the holder of a specific account. Mr. Ledoux identified State exhibits which described a depository resolution with Love Outreach Fellowship as the depositor with Mrs. Seabolt’s home address. The resolution was dated January 6, 2010 and bore the Uname “Phil .Gibson, President of Love Outreach Fellowship”, as the authorized signator. Mr. Ledoux also identified a signature card for the account held by Love Outreach Fellowship, a driver’s license in the name of Philip J. Gibson, and a Texas identification card bearing the name Philip J. Gibson. On cross-examination, Mr. Ledoux conceded that he played no part in any investigation of the defendant.

Dr. Wanda Robinson, an Ochsner Clinic family practice physician, testified that she treated Thelma Seabolt from April 2009 until about 2012. Dr. Robinson said that Mrs. Seabolt suffered from dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. Mrs. Seabolt’s illness manifested itself through loss of memory, cognitive impairment and loss of ability to perform activities of daily living without assistance. Dr. Robinson stated that someone with severe dementia, like Mrs. Seabolt, would be incapable of handling her financial affairs and unable to navigate day-to-day living without assistance. Dr. Robinson noted that Mrs. Seabolt also suffered from spinal stenosis and hypertension.

Dr. Edward Waitt, an Ochsner internal medicine physician, testified that he treated Mrs. Seabolt from 2003 to 2009.3 During that time, Dr. Waitt witnessed her mental capacity deteriorate due to dementia/Alzeheimer’s disease. Dr. Waitt described Mrs. Seabolt’s mental acuity when he last treated her on April 21, 2009 as follows:

...

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
186 So. 3d 772, 2015 La.App. 4 Cir. 0682, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 147, 2016 WL 358636, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-gibson-lactapp-2016.