Exploitation of vulnerable adult alleged in Oconee

Authorities have confirmed the arrest this week of a Beaufort woman in Oconee County on charges of exploitation of a vulnerable adult.  Arrest warrant affidavits signed by an agent of the South Carolina Attorney’s General Office allege that Sandra J. Smyth exploited a vulnerable adult in Oconee by unlawfully applying to her own profit Social Securty and retirement checks belonging to Robert Peter Stone.  The crimes are alleged to have occurred between January 28, 2012 and August 31, 2012 and involve Social Security checks of 15-hundred dollars a month and retirement checks of 21-hundred dollars a month.  Affidavits signed by Thomas Holliday Jr. of the Attorney’s General Office allege the monthly checks were deposited into Smyth’s bank account in Walhalla and the funds were converted to her own use without Stone’s consent.  At the time, Stone was a resident of the Inn at Seneca nursing facility.  Accordng to authorities, the 61-year old Smyth was arrested Monday and released the same day from the Oconee Detention Center on personal recognizance bonds in the amount of 15-hundred dollars each.