A Texas man accused of severely neglecting his elderly mother will head to trial after a judge rejected his proposed plea deal.
Alvin Ray Riggs, 53, appeared in court on Friday seeking a plea agreement that would have allowed him to avoid prison time in exchange for probation. However, District Judge Kerry Russell declined the offer, reportedly calling the pre-sentencing report “one of the worst” he had ever read, according to KLTV.
Riggs was arrested in March after bringing his mother, who has dementia, to a Longview emergency room. Medical staff became alarmed at her condition and notified authorities. An arrest affidavit stated that Riggs had allegedly left his mother seated in a chair for nearly two weeks without proper care. When hospital staff removed her clothing, her skin reportedly peeled off due to the extent of neglect.
Doctors found that the woman was suffering from septic shock, blood clots, a urinary tract infection, and other serious medical issues. Her clothes—seven shirts in total—were reportedly stuck to her skin and had to be cut off. Staff described Riggs as having a “flat affect” during their interactions and noted that he was told her condition could be life-threatening.
According to police, Riggs admitted his mother had lived with him for three years and had been diagnosed with dementia 7–8 years earlier. He described her to officers as “crazy and mean,” claiming she would “fight” anyone who tried to take her to the bathroom. Riggs said he hadn’t cleaned or bathed her because she had always taken care of herself.
Riggs was initially booked into Smith County Jail with a bond set at $2.5 million. He was released in July and is scheduled to stand trial on September 15. While probation remains a legal possibility, a jury will now decide his fate.