Nurses Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Drugs
Palm Beach County authorities have reportedly arrested two Boynton Beach nurses after they had allegedly stolen drugs from the Hamlin Place nursing home where they were employed. The drugs were intended for these Boynton Beach nursing home patients and were instead switched for Tylenol, leaving patients without their necessary prescriptions. An investigation carried out by the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office, along with state law enforcement and the DEA, the two nurses stole over 905 tablets, primarily oxycodone and Percocet, with a value over $500.
Aaron J. Peterson, 37, faces charges of drug trafficking, accusations of fraud, elderly abuse, and grand theft with a bail set at $326,000. Jolie Lynn Katz, 40, faces charges of fraud, larceny, elderly abuse and possession of controlled substances with a bail that was set at $12,000. Police state that an alleged victim who had spent two months at the facility said that she would not feel much pain relief after being administered her pain medication, in some cases experiencing even worse pain as a result.
Attempts to interview other patients were unsuccessful given their various conditions. Katz cooperated with investigators, telling authorities she would turn 10 to 15 pills over to Peterson daily, keeping a couple for herself in the process.
Nursing home abuse is frightfully common in the United States with new incidents being reported every day. Withholding drugs from patients can have adverse or even fatal effect. This kind of abuse is normally the result of negligence on behalf of the facility not carrying out proper background checks before hiring staff.
If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or negligence, you need an experienced, aggressive lawyer who can hold the nursing home responsible. Don’t delay – contact the nursing home litigation team at Sugarman Law at 866-740-9185 or fill out the online contact form. Sugarman Law fights to obtain compensation for those who suffer injuries and death from nursing home neglect and abuse.
