MONTGOMERY COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH EXPLOITATION OF A VULNERABLE ADULT, PROVIDING HEARING AID SERVICES WITHOUT A LICENSE, AND OTHER CHARGES

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that John M. Kochan, Sr, age 53, of 18616 Chandlee Mill Road, Silver Spring, Maryland, was indicted on April 22, 2004 by the Montgomery County Grand Jury with offenses including Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices, Violation of the Hearing Aid Sales Act, and Providing Hearing Aid Services Without a License.

No trial date has yet been set. The pending case will be prosecuted by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. While the charges are merely accusations of wrongdoing and every individual is presumed innocent unless the State proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the felony of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years, a $10,000 fine or both. The other offenses are misdemeanors punishable by a maximum sentence of 90 days, a $500 fine, or both.

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