Birdsboro man charged in suspected elder financial abuse case

A Birdsboro man is facing charges for allegedly stealing from the elderly man whose financial assets he was charged with managing. Timothy Edward Bowman, 37, is accused of theft for allegedly taking more than $17,000 over six months.

According to a press release from the Berks County District Attorney’s office, Bowman was a friend of the victim’s family, and was granted financial power of attorney for the victim in September 2011. In February, detectives from the District Attorney’s Crime Unit initiated an investigation related to a complaint reported by the Berks County Area Agency on Aging.

According to detectives: after taking control of the man’s finances when he went into an assisted living facility for “physical ailments,” Bowman allegedly sold the man’s car for $7,500 and kept the cash.

Bowman also allegedly wrote himself a check from the victim’s account for $8,000 to finish the basement in his home. Bowman also allegedly made $2,000 worth of withdrawals from an ATM in the victim’s name and used the victim’s money to purchase “airline tickets and a family cruise.”

The purpose of giving someone the power of attorney over someone’s finances is to “assist the victim by being responsible for the victim’s finances,” the district attorney’s office said. This not only includes paying bills, but also using the victim’s assets for the victim’s benefit.

The charges were announced last Wednesday afternoon.

Bowman’s bail was set at $10,000.