(ZANESVILLE, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Muskingum County Prosecutor Mike Haddox today announced that a former employee of a Zanesville assisted living facility has been sentenced to 17 months in prison for stealing nearly $26,400 worth of jewelry from elderly residents. Three other individuals were sentenced today for related crimes that cost elderly victims thousands of dollars in stolen cash and jewelry.
Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Fleegle today sentenced Patricia Thomas, 46, of Zanesville, to serve a total of 17 months in prison for stealing 52 pieces of jewelry from residents while she was employed as a resident care assistant at Emeritus at North Hill of 1575 Bowers Lane in Zanesville.
On March 16, 2015, Thomas pleaded guilty to 16 felony counts of theft from an elderly person.
The case was part of an investigation by Attorney General DeWine’s Health Care Fraud Section, which determined that Patricia Thomas, two of her relatives, and three other former employees of Emeritus at North Hill stole or profited from money or jewelry taken from 17 elderly residents between 2012 and 2014. Total losses amounted to approximately $28,000.
Muskingum County Prosecutor Mike Haddox prosecuted the cases of Patricia Thomas and the following individuals, who also were sentenced today in the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court:
- Carla Norman, 52, of Nashport, was sentenced to two years of community control and ordered to pay restitution and court costs. On April 1, 2015, Norman pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts of theft from the elderly for stealing over $400 from various Emeritus residents between 2013 and 2014 while working as a resident care assistant there.
- Teresa Alfman, 54, of Zanesville, was sentenced to two years’ community control and ordered to pay restitution and court costs. On April 1, 2015, she pleaded guilty to one felony count each of theft from an elderly person and safecracking. Alfman admitted to stealing $100 in cash from the locked safe of a resident while she was employed as a resident care assistant at Emeritus at North Hill.
- Karly Thomas, 22, of Zanesville (daughter of Patricia Thomas), was sentenced to two years’ community control and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. On March 23, 2015, she pleaded guilty to one felony count of receiving stolen property. She admitted to pawning a bracelet for cash after her mother had stolen it from a resident. The bracelet’s appraised value was $2,000.
“All people should be able to feel safe where they live, but these individuals made that impossible for the elderly residents of this assisted living facility,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Our investigation found that for about two years, employees took cash and jewelry from 17 different residents. Theft from the elderly is a serious crime, and we are pleased that these individuals are being held accountable for their intentional acts.”
“I would like to thank Attorney General DeWine and his office, particularly Special Agent Supervisor Thalia Haddox and Special Agent Christina Opperman who spent countless hours bringing these defendants to justice. We must always be vigilant to protect our elderly citizens from opportunistic criminals who are more than willing to prey on the vulnerable of our society,” said Muskingum County Prosecutor Mike Haddox.
Two other related cases are being handled by the Zanesville City Law Director:
- Raven Capunay (the niece of Patricia Thomas) was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property in the Muskingum County Municipal Court on March 18, 2015. Capunay was ordered to pay $200 in fines, $75 in court costs, and $1,520 in restitution to two victims.
- Matt Haslett was indicted on one misdemeanor count of theft on Jan. 23, 2015, in the Zanesville Municipal Court for allegedly stealing and selling a resident’s ring worth $750 while he was employed as a resident care assistant at Emeritus at North Hill. The case is pending.
Emeritus at North Hill is now under new ownership.
Individuals who suspect theft or abuse of the elderly should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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