Taylor County tax assessor, husband accused of taking advantage of elderly person

Taylor County Tax Assessor Charlyn Lemons and her husband were arrested Friday on allegations they took advantage of an elderly former Taylor County resident and misappropriated more than $40,000.

Lemons, 50, and her husband, 54-year-old Jeffrey Lemons, are each charged with exploitation of an elder person, theft by taking, financial identity fraud, making false documents and writings, financial transaction card fraud and financial transaction card theft, according to a GBI news release.

GBI agents launched an investigation last month after being contacted by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, which received a complaint from a family member of the alleged victim, who is over 70 years old. The alleged victim’s age and gender have not been released.

In July 2015, the Lemonses befriended the alleged victim and caused the elderly person to sign personal checks that benefited them. The victim also co-signed for an all-terrain vehicle, and the person’s funds were used to buy a mobile home, according to the release.

The alleged victim’s family moved out of state in November 2015, but the person’s debit card was used multiple times throughout Georgia, according to the GBI. The Lemonses are not related to the alleged victim.

Agents still are investigating the case and will submit their findings to the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Taylor County tax assessor, husband accused of taking advantage of elderly person."