Attorney General's News Release

March 17, 2004

Marshall man convicted on domestic assault charge that he allowed his mother to become malnourished

Linneus, Mo. — A Marshall man was convicted today in Linn County on a felony charge of domestic assault filed jointly by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon and Linn County Prosecuting Attorney Tracy Carlson.

In January 2003, Nixon and Carlson filed a charge of domestic assault in the second degree against Charles O'Quest (DOB 10/27/48), alleging he allowed his elderly mother to become malnourished and allowed pressure sores on her body to remain untreated while he lived with her in Meadville in early 2002.

The Linn County jury recommended O'Quest be sentenced to six months in jail and pay a fine to be determined by the court. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 10 by Circuit Judge Gary Ravens.

Edith O'Quest was removed from the home she shared with her son on Feb. 7, 2002 after he was arrested on an unrelated charge. Mrs. O'Quest was taken to a Kansas City area hospital, where she was treated for multiple decubitis ulcers. She died in May 2002 at age 86.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office, which has concurrent jurisdiction in prosecuting and investigating cases where the victim is a Medicaid recipient, helped prosecute the case.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818