Shannon M. Gernold (d.o.b. 11-30-1975), of Dunedin, Florida, was sentenced Thursday, November 3rd, to twelve (12) years in prison for the class A felony of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly and twelve (12) years in prison for the class A felony of Identity Theft. Taney County Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr denied Gernold’s request for probation.

The felony charges stemmed from a pattern of siphoning money from an elderly Kirbyville woman from 2007 through 2009, while using the alias Michael Saint. Ultimately, Branson Police Detective Sgt. Sean Barnwell’s investigation showed that Gernold took nearly $200,000.00 from the victim – that victim is now 79 years of age.

Gernold’s pair of twelve (12) year sentences are to run concurrently with one another. The range of punishment for the class A felony of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly and the class A felony of Identity Theft is from ten (10) years up to thirty (30) years or life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.