OSSIPEE — The husband and wife arrested in West Ossipee on charges of felony elder abuse are each being held on $50,000 cash or $100,000 corporate surety bond at the Carroll County Jail.

Darin J. Brown, 43, and his wife, Sharon Giordano, 38, of 54 Fox Run Road, West Ossipee, were arrested Monday after Ossipee Police used an entry ram to break down the door of the residence. Police said they caught Brown as he tried to escape and found Giordano hiding in a crawl space in the home.

Ossipee Detective Sgt. Robert King said the couple allegedly held Brown's 80-year-old mother, Joan Brown, against her will for several months. According to police, the pair failed to provide her with prescribed medications and did not seek medical attention for Cook after she fractured her hip.

The couple was arraigned Tuesday in 3rd District Court in Ossipee. Brown was charged with criminal neglect of the elderly and criminal restraint, both felonies, one misdemeanor count of hindering apprehension or prosecution, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest or detention.

Giordano was also charged with felony criminal restraint and criminal neglect of the elderly, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest or detention.

According to King, Joan Brown told police her hip fracture occurred “several days ago” when she tried to go into the basement to smoke a cigarette with her son.

She also told police she hadn't taken prescribed medications because her insurance ran out. But according to court documents, King determined that she was led to believe her medications were unavailable, when in fact several refills had not been picked up at her pharmacy since February.

Joan Brown is from Stoneham, Mass. At Tuesday's arraignment hearing, King said the victim possessed a “large amount of money” and an investigation in Massachusetts showed the defendants took steps to take that money from her.

Darin Brown denied any wrongdoing and said his mother was “not in any harm.”

“She was here willingly and she wanted to stay with me and Sharon,” Brown told Judge James Patten.

King said that Joan told him she wanted to go to the hospital, and return to her home in Massachusetts. Ossipee police were alerted to the situation after Joan Brown failed to appear for a court hearing in Massachusetts.

A probable cause hearing will be held July 25 at 2 p.m. in 3rd Circuit District Court.

In the event the couple posts bail, numerous conditions would apply.

First, the judge required a bail hearing prior to acceptance; the defendants would be prohibited from contacting the victim or each other; refrain from excessive alcohol or narcotic drug use, and sign a waiver of extradition before release.

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Larissa Mulkern may be reached at LMulkern@newstote.com.