Man arrested for exploiting elderly on Folly
Staff Report
On January 16, the low temperature on Folly Beach was 26 degrees that day, but some discovered criminal activity expressed the true meaning of cold to Folly Beach Public Safety Director Terry Boatwright. That same afternoon, 47 year-old Paul Hanshaw was arrested for exploiting at least two, elderly Folly Beach residents out of several thousand dollars.
“I find this a particularly despicable act; somebody who will prey on vulnerable, elderly people that have entered their retirement years and are putting money away for the rest of their lives,” Boatwright said. Hanshaw is facing two criminal counts. One for obtaining goods under false pretenses and the other for exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The serious degree to which authorities consider the latter offense was evident in the record setting $500,000 bond placed by the judge. “We think this is the highest bond ever placed on someone we’ve arrested,” Boatwright said of a Folly Beach suspect.
Hanshaw is accused of convincing two Folly Beach residents to give him money with lies of desperately needing their help. Police recovered $2500 of exploited money upon his arrest. However, the case is still under investigation and Boatwright says Hanshaw has swindled significantly more money from victims than what was found at the time of his arrest and that more charges are anticipated pending further investigation.
Hanshaw was told by police not to go within one block of the most recent victim after his arrest. However, he has been living even closer than one block to which the judge responded that he should just avoid Folly Beach all together. Hanshaw is not Folly Beach property owner.
He is expected to appear in court for roll call on March 5 and then again on May 21. However, Hanshaw will be in court before then on January 26 and February 5 for possession of crack/crocaine with intention to distribute and for the same possession and intent within proximity of a school after a December 2009 arrest.
Caption: Photo provided by Folly Beach Public Safety
Paul Hanshaw, 47, was arrested for swindling money from elderly Folly Beach neighbors. He is being held on a $500,000 bond, which is believed to be the largest bond attached to any Folly Beach criminal according to Public Safety Director Terry Boatwright.
