Pacific Grove woman sentenced to 8 years in prison for abusing her mother

A Pacific Grove woman has been sentenced to eight years in state prison for abusing her 77-year-old mother.

Patricia Conklin, 47, was convicted of three counts of elder abuse at a jury trial in August 2013. At the time, she was placed on felony probation with the eight-year prison sentence suspended pending successful completion of probation.

In July, Conklin was found to be in violation of several terms and conditions of here probation, prompting imposition of the full eight-year sentence.

Her conviction stemned from two separate incidents. The first involved an argument at their home in Pacific Grove where Conklin pushed her mother who fell and was injured.

Conklin called 911 and said her mother slipped but her mother could be heard yelling that she was thrown down. She suffered a leg fracture that required major surgery.

The second and third counts related to endangerment of her mother on March 9, 2013. On that day the defendant went to a skilled nursing facility where her mother was recovering from the surgery. Conklin went to the facility and demanded the release of her mother while accusing the staff of wanting her mother’s money.

“She also made threatening statements to the staff. She then took her mother home where she had failed to prepare for her mother’s return,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a release. “The home had numerous tripping hazards, no assistive devices to help her mother and no qualified nursing care. The defendant also told police the toilets weren’t working.”

The case was investigated by the Pacific Grove Police Department and the Monterey Police Department. The victim was represented by Deputy Public Guardian Jennifer Empasis throughout the investigation and the entire court proceedings.