Caregiver convicted of abusing girlfriend
Web Producer: Katherine Carroll
TUCSON (KGUN9) - A Tucson caregiver has been convicted of adult abuse after authorities found his girlfriend severely neglected in her home, according to a spokeswoman with the Attorney General's office.
Christopher Lopez, 49, an employed caregiver, was charged with two counts of Vulnerable Adult Abuse/Domestic Violence and pleaded guilty to one count on October 15.
The victim, Cynthia Fisher, suffered a stroke and required assistance with everyday tasks. Lopez was Fisher's live-in boyfriend at the time and was assigned to provide full-time care for her.
Fisher was admitted to the University of Arizona Medical Center in February where she was treated for Stage 4 bedsores.
Detectives discovered Fisher had been left on the floor in her own waste for over two weeks, and had not been properly fed the entire time.
"This is a terrible situation for the victim who suffered tremendously, and it is very important that matters such as this are vigorously prosecuted," Attorney General Tom Horne said in a statement. "When individuals such as Mr. Lopez are entrusted with caring for those who cannot adequately care for themselves and then abuse that trust, it is a situation that needs to be dealt with forcefully."
Lopez will serve up to 2 and a half years in prison and will be fined $250,000 to cover the costs of Fisher's medical bills. He will be sentenced on November 15 in Pima County Superior Court.
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