INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man abused one of his senior dependents, according to court documents.
Indiana's public court reporting system indicates Lamont Anthony Ervin was arrested for domestic battery with bodily injury, battery with bodily injury, battery with bodily injury to a disabled or mentally ill person, domestic battery to a disabled person and domestic battery when the defendant has a prior conviction.
Police reporting on Ervin's arrest indicates that, since March 2010, Adult Protective Services has investigated alleged exploitation and physical abuse involving Ervin four times.
Law enforcement's most recent investigation of Ervin came in February when officials received a phone call from a person who claimed to have video of Ervin striking his senior dependent several times with a long object.
Investigators obtained the video from the tipster. Officials reported that the video shows Ervin telling the senior to "shut up," even after the senior said he was hurt.
Court documents claim that Ervin could also be heard saying "I know, you shouldn't have sh** yourself, bend down, you got nine more."
Investigators attempted to check on the senior on Feb. 29. They knocked on the door of the residence the senior was known to live in, but nobody answered.
Court records report that officers left a business card at the home's door. Investigators later received a call from Ervin, who wanted to know more about their attempted visit.
Officials told Ervin they were called to the residence to check on the senior. Officers reported that he then said, "Not this again."
Investigators spoke to Ervin on March 11. Court documents indicate that Ervin initially claimed that he hadn't physically abused the senior.
Officials then showed him the video they had received and asked him if he could identify the people in the video. Ervin told officers he and his dependent were depicted in the video.
Ervin claimed it was the first time he hit the senior, per court documents. He also claimed the senior "asked for 10 licks whenever he did something wrong."
Investigators reported that Ervin told them he used a belt to hit the senior. He added that he "just paddled him" and did not hit him on the head.
Court records show that the officers also interviewed Ervin's senior dependent. The senior denied having gone through any physical abuse. Officials reported that they were skeptical of the senior's answers because they believed he was coerced into not providing any information.
Four of the five charges Ervin faces are Level 5 Felonies. The maximum penalty for a Level 5 Felony in Indiana is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.
Ervin's jury trial is currently scheduled for June 5.