By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

Child abuse is deplorable; and those who perpetrate it should be incarcerated "forever."[2]  The flip side of that is elder abuse, at the opposite end of the human life cycle.  The book should be thrown at those who engage in it as well.

Previously, I described a classic example of the latter abuses involving an old friend in Tempe, Arizona.[3]  What I didn't do was name him, or describe with particularity what he told me about the nightmare he was living through.

I just learned from Richie Taylor, the Arizona Attorney General's Communications Director, that Kelly Hegarty is still alive, thank God.  I was very thankful for this first bit of good news since I contacted the Attorney General's office on October 27, 2023.

However, no mention was made about Kelly's physical or mental condition.  Similarly, Taylor has not disclosed whether Kelly's oldest brother Tim Hegarty and his sister Siobhan Hegarty will be arrested and prosecuted.  This would be true in the case of child abuse; and no distinction should be made.

Because elder abuse is rampant[4], hopefully Arizona will become a shining example of how seniors are "rescued," instead of becoming victims of a seemingly lawless and uncaring system.[4]  The clock is ticking, especially during this blessed holiday season.

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© 2024, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See, e.g., https://mailchi.mp/slocity/arrest-for-narcotics-and-child-endangerment?e=924e2a9130 ("Arrest for Narcotics & Child Endangerment")

[3]  See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/elder-abuse-is-alive-and-well-in-arizona/ ("Elder Abuse Is Alive And Well In Arizona")

[4]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/is-eah-housing-an-abomination/ ("Is EAH Housing An Abomination?")