LAKEPORT — The son and daughter-in-law of the alleged victim testified Friday during the felony theft trial of local insurance agent Glenn A. Neasham.
“I couldn”t understand how she was capable of making an investment,” Ted Schuber said of his mother Fran Schuber, alluding to her memory-loss problems and an Alzheimer”s diagnosis. “She just can”t concentrate.”
Neasham, 51, faces one felony count of theft from an elder exceeding $950. The prosecution alleges Neasham acted illegally when he sold a $175,000 annuity to Fran, then 83, in February 2008.
Ted said he”s had a stained relationship with his mother recently, in part because her mood has fluctuated with her deteriorating mental state. “For 10 years, this has been nothing but a mess,” he said.
Another factor influencing their relationship was Fran”s boyfriend, Louis Jochim, who “took a lot of control of her,” Ted said.
Jochim was reportedly present during the transaction between Neasham and Fran, and previous witnesses have testified that he is the beneficiary on the annuity.
Ted said he has been concerned about Jochim influencing his mother”s financial decisions, adding that Fran invested exclusively in certificates of deposit until the 2008 annuity.
Ted recently petitioned to have his mother conserved and was actually named her conservator Friday morning.
Under cross-examination, Ted said he probably wouldn”t have known about the annuity if Neasham hadn”t contacted him in the summer of 2008 to explain Fran”s investment.
Ted testified that Neasham also attempted to set up a chance for he and his mother to meet and have dinner, an offer Ted rejected.
Ted”s wife, Karen Schuber, also testified Friday.
Karen said she was present when Neasham met with Ted and that she didn”t like Neasham meddling in the family”s relationship.
She also described Fran”s deteriorating mental state since moving to Lake County almost 15 years ago. Fran has had difficulty recognizing Ted and her grandchildren on several occasions over the years, Karen said.
Before the Schubers testified, Judge Richard C. Martin allowed the defense to call a witness out of turn. Deanna Jones, a former assistant of Neasham”s, was the first witness to testify Friday.
Jones, who worked in Neasham”s office from November 2007 to May 2008, said she met Fran and Jochim in February 2008 and sat in during portions of their meeting with Neasham.
“She seemed like a very competent woman to me,” Jones said of Fran.
Jones said she no longer lives in the area but contacted Neasham after hearing about the felony charge and offered to help because she remembered Fran not being confused during the transaction meeting.
Jones added that she remembered less than half of Neasham”s clients being 65 or older during her employment.
Deputy district attorney Rachel Abelson called another prosecution witness, in addition to the Schubers, on Friday.
California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigator Kristin Schriber continued her testimony, which began Wednesday afternoon.
The CDI began investigating Fran”s annuity after receiving a complaint from the Lake County District Attorney”s Office in May 2008, according to Schriber.
Schriber said she was assigned the case that summer and conducted a lone interview with Fran and Jochim at Fran”s Lucerne home in December 2008. Fran clearly showed signs of dementia-like symptoms during the 30-minute meeting, Schriber said.
Under cross-examination, Schriber said the type of annuity Fran purchased, an Allianz MasterDex 10, was approved for sale to people as old as 85.
The trial adjourned for the day at 3:15 p.m. and will not reconvene until Oct. 7.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
