Elder abuse by Monterey County Public Guardian: Man threatened & left homeless
November 8, 2013
Jim Kramer (67) suffered a stroke on November 5, 2013. Friend and former landlady Patricia Conklin believes the stroke was caused in part by harassment and elder abuse by Deputy Public Guardian Jennifer Empasis.
Kramer and Conklin shared a house in the coastal community of Pacific Grove. The quiet and gentle handyman was semi-retired, working part-time for Comcast. He had a modest but comfortable lifestyle.
On March 25, 2013, Kramer’s life changed forever. According to Kramer, Empasis entered his home and ordered him to leave. Empasis allowed Kramer just thirty minutes to collect his belongings and vacate the property. She threatened that Kramer would be arrested if he returned.
Kramer said his rent was paid. He was never served with eviction papers. Kramer is not aware of any action that gave Empasis authority to seize the home or order him into the street.
Neighbor Tara Robinson was also present when Empasis ordered Kramer from his home. Robinson said Empasis accused her of being a squatter and ordered her off the property as well.
Kramer and Robinson said that Empasis removed two motor vehicles on March 25, 2013. One of the vehicles, a 2001 Mercedes ML 320, was a gift from Conklin’s mother to her daughter. Empasis still retains custody of Conklin's Mercedes.
A Sergeant Foster from Pacific Grove Police Department accompanied Empasis to reinforce her unauthorized threats. At this point, it is not known how Empasis enlisted Foster to participate in the abuse of power.
Empasis did not compensate Kramer for his lost rent or his security deposit. He experienced considerable hardship, becoming temporarily homeless as a result of Empasis’ actions.
Kramer said he encountered Empasis again in September 2013. Kramer offered to testify in favor of his former landlady, Patricia Conklin, whom Empasis accused of abusing her mother. As a member of Conklin’s household, Kramer had knowledge of the relationship between mother and daughter.
Robinson said she also offered to testify in Conklin’s favor. A retired nurse living nearby, Robinson helped provide care for Conklin’s mother Margarita Zelada.
Robinson’s voice trembled as she spoke of March 9, 2013, when ten Pacific Grove Police officers stormed the Conklin home. Robinson recalls that officers rolled Conklin’s mother in a sheet, strapped her to a gurney, and carried her screaming to an ambulance waiting outside. Robinson said the terror of that night brought nightmares for some time to come.
Police reports indicate the home invasion was in response to Empasis’ unfounded allegations of elder abuse by Conklin. Testimony from Kramer and Robinson could have exonerated Conklin and implicated Empasis in a pattern of false allegations and abuses of power.
According to Kramer and Robinson, Empasis threatened both of them with criminal prosecution if they testified in Conklin’s favor. Robinson was told she would go to jail if she testified about the siege on March 9, 2013.
The stress of threats, harassment, and homelessness took its toll on Kramer’s health. On November 5, 2013, Kramer suffered a stroke.
As of November 7, 2013, Kramer remains in the hospital under observation. His prognosis is uncertain.
Margarita Zelada remains unlawfully confined and isolated by order of the Public Guardian. Her physical and psychological conditions are unknown.
Kramer and Conklin shared a house in the coastal community of Pacific Grove. The quiet and gentle handyman was semi-retired, working part-time for Comcast. He had a modest but comfortable lifestyle.
On March 25, 2013, Kramer’s life changed forever. According to Kramer, Empasis entered his home and ordered him to leave. Empasis allowed Kramer just thirty minutes to collect his belongings and vacate the property. She threatened that Kramer would be arrested if he returned.
Kramer said his rent was paid. He was never served with eviction papers. Kramer is not aware of any action that gave Empasis authority to seize the home or order him into the street.
Neighbor Tara Robinson was also present when Empasis ordered Kramer from his home. Robinson said Empasis accused her of being a squatter and ordered her off the property as well.
Kramer and Robinson said that Empasis removed two motor vehicles on March 25, 2013. One of the vehicles, a 2001 Mercedes ML 320, was a gift from Conklin’s mother to her daughter. Empasis still retains custody of Conklin's Mercedes.
A Sergeant Foster from Pacific Grove Police Department accompanied Empasis to reinforce her unauthorized threats. At this point, it is not known how Empasis enlisted Foster to participate in the abuse of power.
Empasis did not compensate Kramer for his lost rent or his security deposit. He experienced considerable hardship, becoming temporarily homeless as a result of Empasis’ actions.
Kramer said he encountered Empasis again in September 2013. Kramer offered to testify in favor of his former landlady, Patricia Conklin, whom Empasis accused of abusing her mother. As a member of Conklin’s household, Kramer had knowledge of the relationship between mother and daughter.
Robinson said she also offered to testify in Conklin’s favor. A retired nurse living nearby, Robinson helped provide care for Conklin’s mother Margarita Zelada.
Robinson’s voice trembled as she spoke of March 9, 2013, when ten Pacific Grove Police officers stormed the Conklin home. Robinson recalls that officers rolled Conklin’s mother in a sheet, strapped her to a gurney, and carried her screaming to an ambulance waiting outside. Robinson said the terror of that night brought nightmares for some time to come.
Police reports indicate the home invasion was in response to Empasis’ unfounded allegations of elder abuse by Conklin. Testimony from Kramer and Robinson could have exonerated Conklin and implicated Empasis in a pattern of false allegations and abuses of power.
According to Kramer and Robinson, Empasis threatened both of them with criminal prosecution if they testified in Conklin’s favor. Robinson was told she would go to jail if she testified about the siege on March 9, 2013.
The stress of threats, harassment, and homelessness took its toll on Kramer’s health. On November 5, 2013, Kramer suffered a stroke.
As of November 7, 2013, Kramer remains in the hospital under observation. His prognosis is uncertain.
Margarita Zelada remains unlawfully confined and isolated by order of the Public Guardian. Her physical and psychological conditions are unknown.
