FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
August 19, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES ARREST OF A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
FOR INTENTIONAL NEGLECT OF AN ELDERLY PERSON
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest of a
former employee of a Chilton County nursing home for abuse and/or neglect of a
resident of the facility. Katherine Blevins Lenoir, 53, of Maplesville was arrested this
afternoon and released on a $15,000 bond.
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit presented evidence to a
Chilton County grand jury resulting in an indictment* dated August 5 charging Lenoir
with one count of elder abuse in the first degree. Lenoir is a former employee of Don
Hatley Healthcare and Rehabilitation. It is alleged that Lenoir, who is a licensed
practical nurse, inadvertently administered a large dose of a narcotic pain medication to
a patient instead of the requested cough medicine. Lenoir, however, instead of alerting
the facility to her mistake, manipulated treatment records to reflect that she had given
the correct medication. The patient, suffering from an overdose of the narcotic pain
medication, was discovered by a nurse on a later shift and rushed to the hospital where
she spent several days in the intensive care unit before being released. Had Lenoir
reported her mistake immediately, the patient would not have suffered nearly the
prolonged effects of the narcotic. However, due to her intentional neglect the patient
almost died.
Elder abuse and neglect in the first degree (Ala. Code 1975 ß13A-6-192) provides
that any person who intentionally abuses or neglects any elderly person is guilty of a
Class A felony if the intentional abuse or neglect causes serious physical injury. One of
the legal definitions of “serious physical injury,” is a physical injury which creates a
substantial risk of death. A class A felony carries a possible sentence of 10 years to life
in the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Attorney General Strange commended his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their
investigation of the case.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
