OWNER OF THREE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES CHARGED
WITH FELONY NEGLECT

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., announced today that an owner of three assisted living facilities in Baltimore City has been charged by the Baltimore City Grand Jury in a two count indictment with felony and misdemeanor neglect of a vulnerable adult. Maria Santana, 44, of the 6600 block of Fairmount Avenue in Baltimore, owned three assisted living facilities, named Yoshabell House 1, 2 and 3. The indictment charges that from December 13, 2004, through April 1, 2005, Santana failed to provide necessary assistance and resources for a vulnerable adult who resided at two of her three facilities. The felony count of the Indictment charges that Santana’s failures caused serious injury to the victim.

The case is being prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Maryland Attorney General ’s Office which has authority to investigate and prosecute abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults in assisted living facilities. A criminal indictment is only an accusation and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Neglect of a vulnerable adult in the first degree is a felony punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and fine of $10,000. Neglect of a vulnerable adult in the second degree is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, or both, on each count.

Arraignment is set for August 11, 2006.