Former Lawrence nursing home worker accused of abuse and theft pleads guilty | News, Sports, Work

photo author: Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Trussell’s integrity is pictured with the Douglas County Justice and Law Enforcement Center.

A former employee of a Lawrence nursing home who was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a resident was found guilty Friday of attempted abuse of a dependent adult.

The defendant, Honesty Trussell, 25, pleaded no contest to the crime in a plea deal with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. She was originally charged with aggravated abuse of a dependent adult or elderly person and theft stemming from incidents in March and April while she was employed as a life enrichment coordinator at The Windsor of Lawrence, a life and memory care center at 3220 Peterson Road . The trial in her case was supposed to begin on January 6.

As the factual basis for Trussell’s request, Judge Sally Pokorney cited a previous hearing on Sept. 13 in which The Windsor residence director Ashley Burnison testified that the resident noticed unauthorized transfers of money from her financial account.

As This is reported by Journal-SvitLawrence Police Officer David Hogue told the court he responded to a report of a burglary at The Windsor on April 11. He said he visited a resident who had a cell phone and an iPad or similar tablet, and he said she needed help using those devices. Hogue said he learned the money was sent through the resident’s phone to Apple Pay, a mobile payment service, to a phone number that matched Trussell’s phone number.

Hogue said he reviewed the screenshots, which show 15 transactions dating back to March 28 totaling $2,000. He said Trussell admitted during the face-to-face that she had received the transfers, but she said the money was a “gift” from the resident and that she intended to return it.

Burnison testified that The Windsor prohibits employees from accepting gifts of any kind, monetary or otherwise. Hogue said he asked Trussell if she knew about the policy and that she said yes.

Assistant District Attorney Madeline Bjorklun and Trussell’s appointed attorney, John DeMarco, said they believe Trussell has no criminal history. The charge she pleaded guilty to on Friday carries a suspended sentence, but that will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Trussell’s sentencing is scheduled for January 29.