Nursing Home Facing Foreclosure, Company Official Found Guilty Of Illegally Dipping Into Patient's Bank Account

In Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, WNEP-TV Channel 16 reports:

• A nursing home has been ordered to pay a big fine after an administrator stole from patients. Now, the president of the place said another state investigation could force the nursing home out of business. A nursing home in Snyder County was found guilty for stealing from its residents. Monday the corporation learned its punishment for the crime and Newswatch 16 learned of a state investigation into the place.

• In December Loving Care Nursing Center in Selinsgrove was found guilty of misusing one resident's bank account. The vice president of the nursing home was also found guilty of using nearly $30,000 of that resident's money for the nursing home.

• Monday a judge ordered the company to pay $100,000 in fines and the president, Thomas Pregant, said in court the nursing home is now in jeopardy of closing. "I hope that nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living homes will take heart that the DPW regulations in place the protection that we have for the residents actually mean something," said Snyder County District Attorney Mike Piecuch.

• Pregant refused to speak to Newswatch 16. "We are appealing the conviction and of course we'll be appealing the sentencing," said defense attorney Ted Seeber. The president of the company said the nursing home has been in Selinsgrove since 1999 and serves about 40 residents. The property is in foreclosure and the business is up for sale.

• District Attorney Piecuch said the business is getting what it deserves. "What they did is took advantage of the one person who had money in his bank account," Piecuch added. The vice president of the company, who, by the way, is the wife of the president, is expected to be sentenced soon. Piecuch said Loving Care Nursing Center is under investigation by the department of public welfare for violating regulations and its license could be revoked.

Source: Nursing Home Fined for Theft.