New Family Court
Judge Puts Immediate Stop
To Elder Abuse And Exploitation
By For-Hire
"Guardians" Jared Shafer
And April Parks
Newly appointed Guardianship Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel
INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller
AmericanMafia.com
June 15, 2015
LAS VEGAS - After a barrage of shocking
news articles by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, KTNV TV Contact 13,
and The Vegas Voice, Clark County Board of Commissioners Chairman
Steve Sisolak scheduled a special hearing to discuss the futures
of Family Court Judge Charles Hoskin and his Hearing Master, former mob
lawyer Jon Norheim.
.
Disgraced Family Court Judge Charles Hoskin
and his appointed Hearing Master Jon Norheim
Both Hoskin and Norheim
refused to attend the April 21, 2015 hearing, but Clark County Chief District
Court Judge David Barker, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Abuse and Neglect
Detail Lieutenant James Weiskopf did attend, along with a number of family
members of abused or exploited senior citizens, and a battery of reporters.
(Click HERE to
view Lt. Weiskopf's testimony)
Before the hearing ended, at least three
members of the seven member Board of Commissioners had heard enough about
court approved financial bilking and physical abuse of wealthy elderly
or disabled residents of Southern Nevada, and voiced their opinions that
Hoskin and Norheim should be prohibited from presiding over any further
guardianship cases.
With the Commission's blessing, Judge Barker
went to work the following day, and on May 21, announced the ouster of
Hoskin and Norheim, and the appointment of veteran District
Court Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel to hear all of their once scheduled
guardianship cases beginning on June 1. (Unfortunately, both Hoskin
and Norheim are still employed by the Family Court system, and can hear
cases unrelated to guardianship.)
On June 1, Judge Steel, for the first time
in Family Court history, carefully listened to pleas of family members
of exploited seniors. She did so over the objections of expensive
lawyers who work for the professional guardians at the expense of their
court appointed "wards." To the delight of court observers, heads began
to roll.
The first for-hire guardian to be removed
from two exploitive guardianships was April Parks, an often appointed professional
guardian with no formal training.
In late May, the police opened an investigation
of Parks for criminal exploitation of the elderly.
During an explosive attempted interview
of Parks by KTNV TV Contact 13 investigative reporter Darcy Spears
(link to video below), Parks' attorney tried to stop Spears from asking
Parks; "April, are you prepared to defend your actions? When we first
spoke you agreed that there had been some wrongdoing? Has there been
more wrongdoing that you haven't admitted to?"
Parks quickly walked away from Spears and
the Channel 13 cameras.
.
The following are four stories about previously
court sanctioned guardian abuse and exploitation cases in Las Vegas, cases
that have gone mainly unreported. This kind of abuse is not expected to
be allowed to continue with Judge Steel on the Guardianship Court bench:
The
Story Of Rudy and Rennie North:
On Friday, June 15, KTNV TV Contact
13 investigative journalist Darcy Spears reported how newly appointed
Guardianship Judge Steel freed an elderly couple from the abusive and exploitive
court appointed for-hire guardianship of April Parks: Parks' reaction
to Spears questions is very telling:
..
(Click on image above to view the report)
The
Story Of Elizabeth Indig:
.
"Ward" Elizabeth Indig and her court appointed for-hire "guardian" April
Parks (KTNV TV screen shot)
.
Elizabeth
Indig's house, 43 Pangloss St. Henderson, market value - $200,000, was
allowed to go into
foreclosure
by April Parks. The house sold at auction for $22,000 to a party in a lawsuit
involving Parks'
attorney
Lee A. Drizin. Parks or Drizin neglected to inform Indig's family or the
court of the foreclosure
or
auction. (Click on sale document to enlarge).
Clark County Court records indicate that
April Parks' attorney, Lee A. Drizen, was representing a party in a lawsuit
against the buyer at auction of Mrs. Indig's house, and should have informed
Indig's guardian (Parks) and Indig's family that the house was being auctioned.
According to Clark County Family Court
records:
"Parks
took control of the Ward's residence at 43 Pangloss Street, Henderson,
Nevada 89002 on June 20, 2013, the primary residence of the Ward. The house
was in the name of the INDIG FAMILY TRUST. Parks first made a threatening
telephone call to Elizabeth (Indig), then came to Elizabeth's home taking
her keys to the property and mailbox, and threatening her with trespassing
and prison should she (try to re-enter) the property. April Parks was dressed
resembling a law enforcement official complete with badge, baton, and wide
belt with many keys. Parks also ordered guards at the gate to not let Indig's
daughter pass. Parks has already submitted evidence for reimbursement of
payment to change the residence locks, and provided an Occupancy Verification
to Wells Fargo Bank dated September 24, 2013 signed by her confirming Parks
was in control of the residence thus substantiating that Parks controlled
the Ward's residence.
Elizabeth's
daughter informed Parks verbally on June 20, 2013 that the home and its
contents were part of the Indig Family Trust, and that Parks had no jurisdiction
or rights to the home and its contents. Parks told the daughter that the
court decided that she, April Parks, as an Officer of the Court, was in
control of her mother, the home and its contents. Parks again reinforced
that she was in charge, and if the daughter interfered with Parks, she
would go to prison and never see her mother again. Parks sold the contents
of the Indig home between August 10 and August 11, 2013 in violation of
NRS 159.113 and 159.1515 which requires notification and permission of
the court to sell personal property. Parks did not request permission to
sell the Ward's belongings from the court, nor did she inform the court
there was a home belonging to the estate.
Parks
acted in violation of NRS 159.083 in her negligence to perform her duties
to protect and preserve the estate of the Ward. Parks should have been
collecting the Ward's mail, and was negligent in NOT PAYING (emphasis added)
the HOA fees on the residence. Parks has argued that she had no jurisdiction
over the Trust and no responsibility for the home, yet her actions reveal
her fraud in taking control of the residence. The past due (HOA fees) were
not addressed by Parks which then resulted in the home being foreclosed
on by the HOA and sold at auction on November 21, 2013 for $22,000. All
of this was unknown to Mrs. Indig's family until August of 2014 when Parks
filed the First Annual Accounting almost a year late. Had the First Annual
Accounting been filed on time, Mrs. Indig's daughter would have had time
to pay the back HOA fees thereby saving the home from foreclosure."
| This is the second
time April Parks has been reported impersonating a police officer when
evicting elderly persons from their home. She was reported wearing such
a costume and making similar threats at the time she "kidnapped" Rudy and
Rennie North from their home. It was later learned that Parks is not an
official "Officer of the Court," and had no right to inform vulnerable
people she was acting on an order from the Clark County Family Court. |
The Boulder City,
Nevada Police Department has launched a criminal investigation into the
actions of April Parks in relation to the Indig case (Parks is a Boulder
City resident). Judge Steel has been informed of the possible fraud, but
has not yet taken court action against Parks, possibly pending the outcome
of the Boulder City investigation.
The
Story Of Jason Hanson:
.
"Ward" Jason Hanson (photo by Mike Christ)
and his "guardian" Jared E. Shafer
(Click on Jason's image to hear his story in his own words)
.
Jason
Hanson's house, 5141 Lindell Rd., # 101, Las Vegas, market value - $150,000,
sold by Shafer for
$47,000
(click on sale document to enlarge)
The Jason Hanson - Jared
E. Shafer Story
"Special Administrator"
Jared E. Shafer takes house and
inheritance from 24 year
old man with cerebral palsy
"All I wanted to do was go
home, but Shafer takes fervent joy in
destroying people's lives."
- Jason Hanson:
INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller
AmericanMafia.com
March 3, 2014
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/3-3-14_Inside_Vegas.html
The
Story Of Anna Marie Gaule:
.
"Ward" the late Anna Marie Gaule (photo by Thomas
Gaule) and her "guardian" Jared E. Shafer
The fate of the late Anna Marie Gaule was
the first published story in my historical record of local guardian abuse.
In 1999, I was visited by Thomas Gaule,
Mrs. Gaule's only child and living relative. With him was a retired FBI
Special Agent who was a friend of Anna Marie. The gentlemen showed
me a photo (above) that had been taken a week earlier of Anna Marie
who was then confined to a Las Vegas rest home under the court ordered
guardianship of Jared E. Shafer, Clark County's elected Public Guardian
at that time.
I had met Mrs. Gaule years earlier while
I was a Las Vegas City Councilman, and was aware she owned several valuable
commercial properties in my district. I knew she had worked hard all her
life to acquire the properties and provide an inheritance for her only
child who I later learned was caring for her during her final years as
an Alzheimer's victim.
During our visit, Thomas told me that several
months earlier, Anna Marie had wandered away from the home they shared,
became lost, and was picked up by the police for her safety.
That's when Shafer was informed of Anna
Marie's situation, and he immediately petitioned the Family Court for temporary
legal custody of the woman - and her well healed estate. In response,
Thomas enrolled in Shafer's then offered four week Guardian Course provided
to family members for a $1,500 fee at the County Government Center.
Thomas passed the course and received a Certificate of Completion. He then
petitioned the Family Court for permanent custody of his mother.
Shafer and his attorney protested, saying Thomas was "unfit" to care for
his mother based on the day she wandered away from her house and was picked
up by the police. During the course which Shafer taught, Thomas was
never informed that his instructor would interfere with his effort to help
his mother. However, Thomas reported that Shafer did ask numerous questions
about Anna Marrie's real estate holdings. The court sided with Shafer,
and granted him permanent custody over Anna Marie and her estate.
Shafer reportedly didn't take long before beginning to liquidate Mrs. Gaule's
assets.
When Thomas and his mother's friend visited
me with the shocking photo, I was told that they were trying to rescue
her from what was obviously a life threatening situation. I asked
if Thomas had informed Jared Shafer of Anna Marie's injuries? Thomas said
that Shafer was aware of the extensive injuries, but reported that Anna
Marie had "fallen down." Thomas then told me he believed his mother
had been beaten at the hands of the Asian caretakers at the Tonopah Drive
rest home he visited daily that was used by Shafer to house his wards.
Thomas then asked if I wanted to meet his mom.
The three of us immediately drove to the
rest home. We were greeted at the door by an Asian man who did not speak
English. Thomas informed the man that we were there to visit Anna Marie
Gaule. The man said "No No" and tried to shut the door. The retired FBI
Agent pushed pass the man, and Thomas and I followed him inside the converted
house. We went to Mrs. Gaule's room, she was not there. We proceeded to
the patio where I took this photo of Anna Marie's facial injuries one week
after they occurred. It appeared to me that her nose was broken,
and her bruised arms and legs indicated something other than a fall had
occurred. It was obvious that she had been beaten, though she could
not recall or describe what had happened to her.
Anna
Marie Gaule one week after beating (photo by Steve
Miller)
Thomas immediately filed a motion in the
Clark County Family Court of Judge William Voy. A hearing was scheduled
to review Thomas' evidence.
.
(L to R) Family Court Judge William Voy, then criminal defense attorney
Oscar Goodman
with law partners Gardner Jolly and David
Chesnoff (INSIDE VEGAS photo by Mike Christ)
Thomas, who was acting as his own attorney,
asked the retired Agent and I to testify. We arrived at the Family Court
at 9 AM to be informed by the bailiff that we would have to wait outside
the court room until we were called. The hearing began and lasted for several
hours. We were never called into the court. At noon, a group of smiling
men exited the court accompanied by Jared Shafer. Included was local attorney
Gardner Jolly who represented Shafer at the time. Thomas followed them
out of the court, and informed us that Judge Voy ruled in favor of Shafer,
and did not want to hear our testimony. We were disgusted and angry at
what had just occurred.
The week following the hearing, Anna Marie
was transferred to another Shafer controlled rest home in Pahrump, 60 miles
from Las Vegas. Thomas does not drive, so it was very difficult for him
to make daily visits to his mother. He was also limited to thirty minutes
per visit, and ordered by Shafer to not bring guests, or a camera into
the facility.
Anna Marie died shortly after being moved
away from her son. An accounting of the disposition of Mrs. Gaule's assets
was never provided to Thomas after her passing.
MORE INFORMATION on JARED SHAFER:
http://www.stevemiller4lasvegas.com/ShaferFinancialRecords2.html
RECENT AmericanMafia.com INSIDE VEGAS columns on this subject:
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/5-25-15_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/4-27-15_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/4-13-15_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/3-9-15_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/8-11-14_Inside_Vegas.html
