FORMER CAREGIVER CHARGED WITH ABUSE AND ASSAULT ON A VULNERABLE ADULT

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that former caregiver Shellie Grooms was charged in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult and Second Degree Assault arising from a November 30, 2004 incident where Grooms slapped a developmentally disabled man whom she was being paid to care for.

Grooms, 42, of the 1800 block of Ruxton Avenue worked for Chimes’ Supportive Employment Program and was assigned to work with the vulnerable adult victim at the cafeteria at UMBC, Catonsville campus.

Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $5,000.00 fine. Second degree assault is also a misdemeanor, punishable by up to ten years in prison and/or a $2,500 fine. An application for statement of charges is an accusation, and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Trial is scheduled for August 24, 2005.

This case was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which has authority to prosecute abuse or neglect in facilities that receive Medicaid funds.

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