Tucson Woman Given 18.5 Years in Prison for Abuse of Elderly Man

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Feb. 10, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard announced today that Linda Darlene Giles, 58, of Tucson, has been sentenced in Pima County Superior Court to 18.5 years in prison for financial abuse of a vulnerable adult and emotional abuse of a vulnerable adult. She must also pay $540,000 in restitution. 

In March 2009, Giles was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of James Carafas, who was 85 years old. The sentence for abuse will be served concurrently with the manslaughter sentence. 

According to investigators, Carafas had known Giles for approximately 35 years.  At the time his wife passed away in 2003, Carafas suffered from two types of cancer, as well as being both hearing and sight impaired.  Giles moved to Tucson in August 2005 to acquire training to be a nurse’s assistant.  However, she never completed her training. During the 15 months she lived with Carafas, Giles gained control over $3 million in real estate and more than $100,000 in cash belonging to Carafas.  

This case was investigated by Pima County Sheriff’s Detective Daniel Preuss and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John Evans and Special Assistant Attorney General Ronda Lustman.  For additional information, contact Molly Edwards at (602) 542-8019.