Liberty County Couple Arrested for Exploitation and Assault of Elderly Man

A Liberty County couple, Jolene Placencio and Arnold Placencio, have been arrested following an investigation into the theft of personal items and the alleged coercion and assault of an elderly man.

In January 2025, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a report from an elderly male who stated that personal items and identifying documents were stolen from his home while he was hospitalized. The suspects, Jolene Placencio and Arnold Placencio, had been residing with the victim in Liberty County.

The investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) revealed evidence suggesting the suspects pressured the victim into making misleading statements while he was still recovering in the hospital. Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for the couple’s new residence in Fort Bend County, which was executed with the assistance of Fort Bend County authorities, leading to the recovery of items related to the case.

Further review of the evidence corroborated a family account indicating that Arnold Placencio had allegedly pointed a firearm at family members when they attempted to retrieve property from their father’s residence at his request while he was hospitalized.

Following the investigation and collaboration with the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office, warrants were issued for Arnold Placencio for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Felony 2) and for Jolene Placencio for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information—Elderly Victim (Felony 1).

Both suspects were taken into custody on April 1, 2025. Arnold Placencio’s bail was set at $30,000, and Jolene Placencio’s bail was set at $50,000.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges related to Credit/Debit Card Abuse are pending against Jolene Placencio. The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office has affirmed its commitment to protecting the elderly and ensuring justice for victims of fraud, coercion, and abuse.