One of three people involved in running an unlicensed Riverside care facility that neglected and abused six severely disabled residents has been sentenced to seven years in state prison, the California Department of Justice said.
Ronnel Tiburcio, convicted in July 2023 of six counts of elder abuse likely to produce great bodily harm and death, was sentenced on Dec. 13. Tiburcio worked as an assistant for Joel Ombao, who owned several hospice companies including Secure Hands.
The two men, along with registered nurse Nimfa Molina, were responsible for operating and caring for residents at the facility. Investigators found the residents, 32 to 66 years old, living in squalor and without the necessary staff and equipment for proper care. The victims were malnourished, dehydrated and living in filth, authorities said.
“Individuals entrusted with the care of elderly and dependent adults have the utmost responsibility for their well-being and safety,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statment.
On July 1, Ombao was sentenced to five years in prison, while Molina received, in October 2023, about four months at Riverside County jail.
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