(The Center Square) – One of the three individuals found guilty of abusing disabled and elderly residents at an unlicensed care facility in Riverside was sentenced to seven years in state prison. According to court documents, the six victims ranging from 32 to 66, were found malnourished, living in filth and without basic care.
The “care facility” – a house – did not have the proper staff, equipment or licensing necessary to care for the residents who lived there. The other two individuals – Joel Ombao and Nimfa Molina were sentenced earlier this year and late last year.
Ombao was sentenced in July 2024 to five years in state prison for six counts of elder abuse and Molina was sentenced to 122 days in Riverside County jail in October 2023 for one misdemeanor count of elder abuse. Now, Ronnel Tiburcio is the last to be sentenced and has been convicted of six counts of elder abuse likely to produce great bodily harm and death, all of which are felonies.
The victims were housed in Secure Hands Board and Care Facility, one of Ombao’s several hospice companies. Ombao, his assistant Tiburcio and the registered nurse Molina were responsible for operating the facility and caring for the residents living there.