NURSING AIDE CONVICTED OF ASSAULT FOR SPITTING ON 98 YEAR OLD WOMAN

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that a former geriatric nursing assistant of Milford Manor Nursing Home located at 4204 Milford Mill Road, Baltimore County was convicted of Second Degree Assault in the District Court, Baltimore County, in connection with an incident that occurred on November 29, 2004. Following a court trial, Judge Robert E. Cahill, Jr., found that Nakitta S. McLean, 29, of Eberle Drive in Baltimore had spit on the 98-year-old female resident to whom she was providing care at the time. The resident, who is wheelchair bound, has a primary diagnosis of dementia, as well as other age related disorders. The incident was witnessed and reported by a member of the housekeeping staff. McLean was suspended at the time of the reported incident and terminated shortly thereafter. “It is disheartening to hear about these types of acts committed on vulnerable members of our society, but I appreciate that a witness came forward to report this abuse and ultimately helped us prove our case,” said Attorney General Curran.

McLean was given a 30 day-suspended sentence and placed on six months of probation. While on probation, she is prohibited from working with vulnerable adults in the hands on care taking field. In addition, the Court imposed a fine of $250 and court costs of $175. As a consequence of her conviction, McLean is subject to administrative sanctions from the state Office of Healthcare Quality and Board of Nursing.

This case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which has authority to prosecute abuse or neglect of vulnerable persons in facilities that receive Medicaid funds.

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