Cantonment Woman Charged With Exploitation Of Elderly Man

March 15, 2021

A Cantonment woman is charged with taking half ownership of a piece of property belonging to a vulnerable elderly man and spending $9,000 of his money.

Sharon Marie Hazzard, 52, was charged with felony exploitation of the elderly.

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, the victim was at a high risk of exploitation due to a sixth grade education and a diminished understanding of finances.

“He has no understanding of his income or how his funds were being managed. He is observed to be easily manipulated and agreeable to persons of trust,” the DCF report states.

In April 2016, Hazard convinced the victim to “sign some papers,” according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, that was actually a quitclaim deed giving her half ownership of the property with rights of survivorship. It was discovered when a property tax late notice was received.

The property is described as an “old, poorly maintained single wide trailer” in Cantonment. The trailer was damaged by Hurricane Sally and until August 2020 did not have a functioning air conditioner. the report notes.

In addition, Hazard had herself added to a Regions Bank account owned by the victim, according to ECSO. Over the course of about nine months, she used about $9,000 from the account to make multiple purchases and ATM withdrawals that did not benefit the elderly victim, the report continues.

When DCF first interviewed the victim, they found that there was very little food in the trailer and that family members stated the man had not received medical care in several years.

Hazard was “unresponsive and did not cooperate’ with the ECSO or DCF’s investigation, the arrest report states. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.

The relationship between Hazzard and the victim is not contained in a redacted arrest report.

Comments

8 Responses to “Cantonment Woman Charged With Exploitation Of Elderly Man”

  1. David on March 15th, 2021 10:35 pm

    @ Paul
    You are 100% correct

  2. paul on March 15th, 2021 10:11 pm

    GREED/ NO MORALS

  3. Debra Early-Magouyrk on March 15th, 2021 12:41 pm

    What kills me – “Family members stated the man had not received medical care in several years.” Not only does she still need to be jail why are the family members not there with her? I say this because of this statement that is in the article. Sad, Sad, Sad

    My mother only had a 6th grade education. I took care of her until the day she passed.
    No way would I let someone I do not even know take care of her.

  4. Kathy on March 15th, 2021 10:38 am

    SHAME ON YOU! I agree 100% with Chris bond set way to low she too $9000 she should get no Bond I see and hear about this every day it’s a sad world we live in God don’t like ugly

  5. Vicky on March 15th, 2021 8:58 am

    This is what is wrong with our justice system .She defrauds an elderly person and get’s a felony charge and only gets a $2500 bond Come on that bond should have been $25,000 it’s just wrong the way our justice system works

  6. chris on March 15th, 2021 7:44 am

    I guess his finances didn’t matter to her, Oh wait, they mattered while she was stealing them.

  7. Jr on March 15th, 2021 7:26 am

    WOW…$2500 for what she did? What a sad situation right here. She had to of known the mental capacity of this poor person. This should have been a NO BOND case just like committing acts against children. I pray for the victim in this and I hope they send this thing to prison for a long time! Is this the same lady who opened up several restaurants in the Cantonment/Gonzalez area?

  8. Chris J Paul on March 15th, 2021 6:41 am

    a $2,500 bond.

    Too low..

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News