Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
A 20-year-old caretaker from Florida avoided jail time after pleading guilty to physically and verbally abusing an 88-year-old man in a wheelchair. Jonah Delgado was sentenced to two years of house arrest and four years of probation after pleading guilty to two counts of elder abuse and battery of a victim over age 65, which are all third-degree felonies.
The shocking assault, which took place in August 2020, was captured on the victim's home surveillance camera. In the 55-second video, which was posted on Facebook by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Delgado can be seen slapping the partially-dressed man in the face, stomach, and head while yelling at him. He also punched him in the stomach several times.
"The actions of this man are deplorable, unacceptable, and disturbing," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister when Delgado was taken into custody. "Delgado was trusted to take care of this man and to protect him. He not only broke this trust but put this man in direct danger with his actions. I am very proud of our detectives who worked quickly to get this man in custody before he could hurt anyone else."
Delgado will also have to undergo anger management classes and complete 200 hours of community service.
During his virtual court hearing, Delgado apologized to the son of the victim.
"If I can just say one thing, I just wanted to apologize. I understand that the victim's son is here, and I just wanted to apologize to him," Delgado said.