SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man was recently arrested after allegedly using money from a woman’s bank account without permission.

James E. Brake, 72, 407 S. Harkless Drive, Syracuse, is charged with exploitation of an endangered adult and theft, both level 6 felonies.

On Feb. 21, an officer with the Indiana Adult Protective Services received an initial report concerning a woman with dementia residing at a nursing home in Kosciusko County. Brake is the woman’s attorney-in-fact and has control of her bank account.

Court documents do not indicate if or how they are related.

According to court documents, the officer learned the woman’s trust was about to run out of money and that the nursing home was going to apply for Medicaid. The nursing home was unable to make contact with Brake since he is the power of attorney.

On May 29, the officer obtained a subpoena to PNC Bank for accounts related to Brake and the woman through Elkhart County Superior Court. Records show that the woman had income from social security and a pension check totaling $1,700 a month from January 2017 to April 2019. There were no payments made to the nursing home. There were numerous payments to Walmart and utility companies, as well as other expenses associated with home and vehicle ownership. There were also cash withdrawals made by Brake.

Brake was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 26, with a $7,500 surety and cash bond.