A.G. Schneiderman Announces Arraignment Of Nurse Aide Who Allegedly Abused Nursing Home Resident

CORTLAND – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that Noelle Otto, 28, a Certified Nurse Aide, was arraigned in Cortland City Court yesterday before the Honorable Elizabeth A. Burns on the charges of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree, and Wilful Violation of Health Laws.

“Nursing home residents are among New York’s most vulnerable citizens, and they deserve to be treated with the utmost respect and compassion by those responsible for their care. For a patient to be abused by someone whose job it is to ensure their wellbeing is disgraceful,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will fully prosecute those who violate the trust placed in them by nursing home residents and their families.”

The incident occurred on December 5, 2014, at Crown Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, a nursing home located at 28 Kellogg Road in Cortland, when Otto allegedly threw a female resident’s feet, covered her mouth, slapped her arms and legs, and slammed her arms against the bedside table. Otto then allegedly made a false statement to the facility regarding the incident. 

Otto entered a plea of not guilty and was released on her own recognizance.  Judge Burns scheduled a pretrial for March 2, 2016.

The charges against Otto are allegations and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The case was investigated by Senior Special Investigator Michael J. Ostuni.  The case is being prosecuted by Ralph D. Tortora, III, Regional Director, Syracuse Regional Office of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.  Catherine Wagner is Chief of Criminal Investigations-Upstate.  William Falk is the Deputy Chief Investigator Upstate.  The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney.  The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.