Porterville man arrested for elder abuse and running an unlicensed home care facility

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A 911 medical aid call at a home Monday resulted in Porterville Police shutting down an unlicensed care facility.

Detectives said 66-year-old Juan Ledesma ran it and said he was arrested for not only operating without a license-- but also for allegedly abusing his elderly clients.

"We're looking at potential physical abuse, potential neglect, and potential financial abuse as well," said Lt. Dominic Barteau, Porterville Police Department.

Barteau said four elderly people ranging in age from 81 to 95 were not being properly cared for. They were taken to Sierra View Medical Center for evaluations and placed into new care facilities.

Meanwhile, neighbors along West McComb Avenue said it was no secret this was an elderly care home. They just did not know it was being ran illegally and the people inside were allegedly being abused.

"It's surprising-- they can't help themselves because they are old," said Yajaira Godinez, neighbor.

A preliminary investigation found Ledesma was last licensed in 2004. And police confirmed with us for a period of time he even ran another elderly care facility at a home across the street.

A neighbor who did not want to be identified said that lasted from 2009 to 2011.

"I would see staff come around and push the clients around and you know take them out."

The neighbor also tells us the man being charged with felony elderly abuse is not the man she knew.

"It's very sad to see-- it's very shocking because if you knew John that's not in his character and he's been in the business for a very long time."

The police department plans to submit the case to the District Attorney's Office Wednesday. And the Department of Justice's Elder Abuse and Medical Fraud Unit is also helping with the investigation.