NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 14, 2011
For More Information Contact:
Dana Brueck 608/266-1221
MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that a Milwaukee County woman has been sentenced for neglect of a patient, a misdemeanor.
Latisha Williams, of Greenfield, was sentenced to nine months in jail, imposed and stayed. She was placed on one year’s probation and as a condition of probation, must serve 30 days in jail. As an additional condition of probation, Williams must pay court costs and a $500 fine. She also is prohibited from having any employment involving contact with the elderly or any Medicaid recipients in a caregiver capacity.
On June 24, Williams entered a plea of guilty to the charge which stems from her employment as a caregiver at a residential facility.
According to the Department of Justice’s criminal complaint, Williams was a caregiver employed at Life Care Homes, a community-based residential facility located at 5128 W. Midland Drive in Greenfield. On December 27, 2009, about 1:08 a.m. the Greenfield Police responded to a 911 call from the facility concerning an elderly man who had fallen down and could not get up. Upon entry to the facility, the police found an 88-year-old man on the floor. The man told police he had fallen around 11 p.m. and his calls for help went unanswered for a long time. The fire department was called to provide a medical assessment of the resident who was not found to have any injuries.
An investigation by the Greenfield Police revealed that Williams had punched in for the night shift at 10:56 p.m. but was not at the facility when the police arrived, nor did she return while they were there. Williams was interviewed and admitted she left the facility to buy cigarettes and some personal items. Williams indicated that when she returned from her shopping trip, she saw that the police were at the facility, she became scared and left. Williams said knew she was leaving the facility unattended and that her actions left the residents at risk. Williams was immediately terminated from her employment at the facility.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Gabrysiak.
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