Office of the Attorney General
Cumberland County Grand Jury Indicts Nurse on Neglect, Theft Charges Following Investigation by Attorney General, Burkesville Police

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced the indictment and arrest of a former nurse at the Cumberland Valley Manor Nursing Home in Burkesville, Ky. on charges of neglect of an adult and theft of a controlled substance. A Cumberland County grand jury indicted 41-year-old Jinger Butler on January 19, 2012 on 11 counts of neglect and 11 counts of theft of a controlled substance following an investigation by General Conway's Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control and the Burkesville Police Department. Members of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office took Butler into custody on January 21. She was released on her own recognizance.

The indictment for neglect alleges that between May and November of 2010 Butler replaced and retained the medication of 10 adult residents while she was acting as a caretaker at the Cumberland Valley Manor Nursing Home. Butler's conduct, according to the indictment, deprived each resident of services necessary to maintain the health and welfare of the patient, constituting knowing neglect of an adult. Under KRS 209.990(2), each count of knowing neglect of an adult is a Class C felony with a potential prison sentence of five to10 years.

The indictment for theft of a controlled substance charges that Butler took hydrocodone pills, identified as Lortab, from the residents. Theft of a Controlled Substance is a Class D felony with a potential sentence of one to five years of imprisonment. Both indictments relate to the same 10 residents.

The Office of Jesse Stockton, Commonwealth's Attorney for the 40th Judicial Circuit representing Monroe, Cumberland and Clinton counties, is handling the prosecution of this case.

A charge is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.