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Thomas Glenn North (District Attorney’s Office for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit)

WOODSTOCK, Ga. – A man will spend a decade in prison after police say he stole more than $1.3 million from his elderly mother’s bank account.

At a hearing in September, Thomas Glenn North III, 64, pleaded guilty to 37 charges, including one count of neglect of a disabled, adult or elderly person; 1 charge of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled, adult or elderly person; and 35 counts of theft by taking.

Officials say they began investigating North after a family member discovered the victim’s assisted living facility was evicting her for not paying her rent.

According to evidence provided by prosecutors during the hearing, North had power of attorney for his mother and withdrew $1.35 million from her bank account and trust fund over three years.

“At a vulnerable time in her life, the victim in this case trusted her son to serve as a power of attorney, with the expectation that he would protect her finances and well-being,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Hines of the Special Unit for Victims, District Attorney’s Office. “Instead, he shamelessly took funds from a family trust, stole the proceeds from the sale of her home and completely drained her life savings, forcing her to rely on support from other family members.”

At the hearing, North’s sister told the court how the betrayal had profoundly affected her mother’s physical and emotional support.

“Elder abuse takes many forms, including theft. Unfortunately, this is often a crime involving family members,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “What is particularly shocking about this case is that this defendant eagerly withdrew thousands of dollars on a regular basis until his mother ran out of money and could no longer support herself. A lifetime of savings was wiped out in three years.”

Following the guilty plea, a Superior Court judge sentenced North to 40 years, the first 10 in prison and the rest on probation. North will also have to pay back the funds he took at a rate of $50,000 a year.

North is also banned from having any contact with his mother or other members of his family.