Menlo Park man faces elder-abuse charges

A 51-year-old registered sex offender living in Menlo Park was held to answer on multiple charges related to elder abuse after a preliminary hearing Oct. 22 in San Mateo County Superior Court.

He has been charged with two felonies — knowingly allowing an elder or dependent adult to suffer under circumstances likely to cause great harm or death and falsifying evidence — in addition to a misdemeanor charge for obstructing an officer.

Darryl Keith Phillips is registered on the California Megan’s Law website for rape and other sexual-assaults, two of which involved victims younger than 14 years old.

The district attorney’s office described the latest case as a “third strike” case.

Mr. Phillips allegedly was living in the Menlo Park home of a 66-year-old woman with dementia, diabetes and high blood pressure when her daughters became worried that he was not giving their mother the necessary medication.

According to the district attorney’s office, in August 2012 he refused to allow police and adult protective service representatives into the home. When police returned the following day with paramedics, the woman reportedly had “life threatening blood sugar and blood pressure levels” with severe mental impairment. She was hospitalized and survived.

Investigators allegedly found that Mr. Phillips had not bought insulin for many months, but had forged the woman’s signature on $87,000 in loans; opened investment accounts in her name; and was preparing to take out a $150,000 loan on her house.

At first represented by defense attorney Ross Green, Mr. Phillips made a motion on Oct. 21 for a new lawyer, which the judge denied, but then requested that he be allowed to act as his own attorney, which the judge granted.

However, at the second day of the preliminary hearing, on Oct. 22, the defendant changed his mind and asked again for a lawyer. The judge agreed he would have representation during his Superior Court arraignment on Nov. 6. Mr. Phillips remains in custody on $500,000 bail.

Mr. Green was not immediately available for comment about the case filed against his former client.