North Country Gazette



AG: Ex-Nursing Home Aide Stole From Patient

Posted on Friday, 13 of November , 2009 at 7:05 pm

ROCHESTER—A former Rochester-area nursing home aide has been arrested for stealing a patient’s credit card to purchase personal items, pay bills and make multiple ATM withdrawals.

After she was fired from the nursing home, she then allegedly filed a forged and false application with the Monroe County Department of Human Services in order to obtain public benefits.

Certified nurse aide Latoya Harding, 28, of Grafton St. in Rochester, formerly employed at the Blossom South Nursing Home, allegedly took a credit card from a 90 year-old patient suffering from dementia to pay her cable, cell phone and utility bills. She also allegedly purchased items from Wal-Mart and made several cash withdrawals. The felony complaint alleges that between June and August 2009, Harding stole a total of $2,434.57 from the resident.

“Nursing home employees are entrusted with the care of our loved ones,” said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “We will aggressively pursue anyone who violates that trust and takes advantage of vulnerable patients in their care.”

Harding was arraigned in Rochester City Court before Judge Stephen T. Miller on charges of fourth degree grand larcency, first degree offering a false instrument for filing and second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

After Harding was fired from Blossom South in mid-August because of the theft allegation, she allegedly applied for unemployment benefits to the Monroe County Department of Human Services Temporary Assistance Program. According to the complaint, Harding submitted an application with a forged signature of a Blossom South employee and falsely claimed that she was laid off from Blossom South. Further, the application clearly stated that only employers can complete and submit the form.    11-13-09

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Category: Courts, Crime, Elder Care, Government, Health, New York State

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