April 5, 2025
Liberty County, TX – In January of 2025, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a theft involving an elderly male victim who reported that personal items and identifying documents were taken from his home while he was hospitalized. The suspects, identified as Jolene Placencio and Arnold Placencio, had been living with the victim at the time in Liberty County.
The investigation was assigned to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) and the investigation progressed. Evidence was obtained that indicated the victim was pressured by the suspects into making misleading statements while still recovering in the hospital. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the suspects’ new residence in Fort Bend County. The warrant was executed with the assistance of Fort Bend County authorities. Items tied to the case were recovered during the execution of the search warrant.
While reviewing evidence after the search, investigators located material that corroborated an account from the victim’s family—specifically, that Arnold Placencio had pointed a firearm at them when they attempted to retrieve property from their father’s residence at his request, while he was still hospitalized. After reviewing evidence and collaborating with the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office, warrants were obtained on Arnold Placencio for the offense of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Felony 2) , and Jolene Placencio for the offense of Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information—Elderly Victim (Felony 1).
On 04/01/2025 both suspects were taken into custody. Arnold Placencio’s bail was set $30,000, and Jolene Placencio’s bail was set at $50,000.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges related to Credit/Debit Card Abuse are pending against Jolene Placencio.
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the elderly and ensuring justice for victims of fraud, coercion, and abuse.
(The information is taken from the Investigator’s report. The defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.)
Lieutenant J.W. Bennett
