Tennessee Resident Arrested for Exploiting Elderly Mississippi Woman

JACKSON, Miss. (Press Release) — A Tennessee resident has been arrested at his home for the exploitation of an elderly female resident of Mississippi, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Ralph Paul Henson, 67, of Seymour, Tennessee, was arrested Thursday by the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (TN), after being indicted by a Rankin County Grand Jury. Henson is charged with two counts exploitation of a vulnerable person. He was booked into the Sevier County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Mississippi.

“We appreciate Sheriff Ronald Seals and his officers for their assistance with this arrest and during our investigation,” said Attorney General Hood.

Henson is accused of exploiting the elderly woman while he was acting as her power-of-attorney which designated him to handle certain affairs for her while she was in a nursing facility. Henson is alleged to have used the victim’s checking account and credit card in an amount exceeding $20,000 for his own purposes.

If convicted on both counts, Henson faces up to 20 years in prison. As with all cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by Investigator Jamie Thompson and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Larry Baker of the Attorney General’s Office, Public Integrity Division.