Office of the Attorney General
Former Madison County Mental Health Worker Pleads Guilty to Reckless Abuse

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway and his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control today announced the guilty plea of a former mental health worker at Independent Opportunities of Madison County for the mistreatment of a mentally challenged resident. The incident, which left the resident with minor injuries, occurred in September of 2009 at a Berea support for community living residence.

Patsy Jackson, 62, of Mt. Sterling pled guilty today in Madison District Court to a charge of reckless abuse of a vulnerable adult, a Class A misdemeanor. Jackson was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment, conditionally discharged for a period of two years as long as she commits no further criminal offenses. Under the terms of her guilty plea, Jackson is not permitted to work with vulnerable adults. She was also terminated from her position following the incident.

"Protecting Kentucky's elderly and vulnerable citizens is a top priority of mine," General Conway said. "I am pleased that that this defendant will no longer be working with vulnerable adults."

A Madison County grand jury indicted Jackson in September 2010 following an investigation by General Conway's Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit. The case was prosecuted by the Madison County Attorney's Office.

Independent Opportunities is a London, Ky. based company that provides support and services to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities.