Jackson, MS—A Lowndes County caregiver has been sentenced on charges she exploited a vulnerable person under her care , announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. 
 
Godiva Fox, age 43, of 1306 5th Street South in Columbus, entered an open guilty plea on Monday to two counts of exploitation of a vulnerable person in Lowndes County Circuit Court before Judge Lee Howard.  An open plea means the defendant refuses to accept the state’s recommended sentence and throws herself on the mercy of the court. 
 
Judge Howard sentenced Fox to a five year suspended sentence with five years probation on each count to run concurrent and ordered her to pay full restitution in the amount of $12,628.00 to the victim, as well as all court costs and a fine in the amount of $1,000. 
 
Fox was supposed to be caring for the victim, who was receiving social security checks.  Fox was accused of taking the checks, cashing them and using the money for her own benefit during a two year period.  Additionally, she denied the victim access to any of the funds and stopped adequately providing food for the victim and his mother, whom Fox is related to and was also supposed to be taking care of. 
 
This case was investigated by the Public Integrity Division/Vulnerable Adults Unit of the Attorney General’s Office and prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorneys General Larry Baker and Marvin Sanders.