| Wednesday, March 26, 2008 4:58 PM CDT |
Nursing home will fight fine over sex offender who was patient
BLOOMINGTON -- A Bloomington nursing home will appeal a $22,500 fine levied by the Illinois Department of Public Health for allegedly failing to protect residents from a sex offender who was a patient at the facility.
Asta Care, 1509 N. Calhoun St., was charged with failure to screen a male resident who made inappropriate sexual advances to staff and two mentally disabled residents, according to state health department records. The allegations were noted in nursing records dating to October 2006 at the 117-skilled bed facility, said state documents.
Officials at Asta Care declined to comment Wednesday on the allegations. A status hearing in the case is set for April 3.
The man, who was identified as a sexual offender based upon his behavior at a previous nursing home, was allowed to remain at Asta Care after complaints were made by staff, the state health department said.
The man’s behavior at the previous facility and shortly after he arrived at Asta Care “put all female residents at risk for sexual abuse,” said a public health statement of deficiencies.
Investigators said the resident told them he had spent six years in prison for sexual abuse of a child. The conviction was confirmed in a background check conducted by the facility in May 2007, investigators noted.
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