SCOTTSBLUFF, NE - A Scottsbluff man was arraigned and charged with felony abuse of a vulnerable adult in Scotts Bluff County Court Friday.

According to court documents, 48-year-old Barry Neal is charged with the crime for allegedly intentionally misleading his aunt 69-year-old Joyce Nelson and taking about $270,000 from her.

The incident started in February 2017 when Joyce's father, William Nelson passed away. According to the affidavit, Joyce was awarded to be the personal representative for her father's estate. 

Nelson told investigators she was overwhelmed with the legal aspects of being the representative for her father's estate. According to court documents, Neal told her that if she received inheritance, she would lose all of her social security and SNAP benefits. 

Nelson then signed over the responsibilities of personal representative to Neal. Nelson told investigators she did not receive any money from her father's estate and that she did not know how much was in the estate or her father's will. 

There was $271,568.33 in the estate. 

During a Nebraska State Patrol investigation, investigators found that by October 2018 the accounts were nearly empty and one had been closed due to insufficient funds. 

Investigators also found that an $85,000 withdraw was made from the account. According to court documents, Neal purchased a house in Scottsbluff for that amount the same month. 

Nelson also told investigators that Neal has Power of Attorney for her and that she does not receive any of the money from her social security or SNAP benefits. According to court documents, Neal also installed a camera in her apartment so he could check on her at any time to make sure Nelson wasn't "misbehaving."

According to the affidavit, Neal would bring Nelson groceries once a week and tell her not to eat any food that he did not buy for her. She also wasn't allowed to go anywhere with anyone unless she gave Neal their name and phone number first. 

A preliminary hearing for Neal is scheduled for January 30, in Scotts Bluff County Court