Man Charged with Elder Abuse After He Was Found Drunk in a Patient’s Room

A Minnesota resident has been charged with elder abuse after he was found drunk and passed out on the job at a group nursing home.

Everett Charles Stiner, 58 years old, was arrested on elder abuse charges on May 9th after police were called to the Treasure State Group House. He faces one felony elder abuse charge in connection with the incident.

According to police documents, officers were called to the group home around 6 AM on Friday morning after receiving a report of an intoxicated male. An employee of the nursing home told police that Stiner had passed out in a patient’s room. Stiner had been on duty overnight.

Officers noted that Stiner’s speech was slurred and he could not maintain his balance when standing.

Stiner denied he had been drinking, saying that he was simply on prescription pain medication, but the police report stated that he blew a 0.287 on a Breathalyzer. The legal limit for driving is 0.08. Officers also recovered an empty pint bottle of Lewis & Clark vodka in a trash can.

Several of the patients at the home require 24 hour care. If convicted on the felony elder abuse charge, Stiner faces 10 years in prison. Prosecutors have requested Stiner’s bond to be set at $10,000.

Signs of Elder Abuse, Including Felony Elder Abuse

A person does not have to inflict abuse to be held responsible for the physical abuse. One is culpable by allowing it to take place without doing anything to stop or prevent the abuse. By law, physical abuse includes: slapping, hitting, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, drugging a patient or confining a patient to control behavior.

Nursing home residents suffering from physical abuse by their caregivers (home caregivers, family member caregivers) may show:

• bruises, welts, burns
• unexplained fractures or other physical injuries
• repeated accidents
• injuries left untreated
• references to caregiver’s temper or anger
• nervous or quiet around caregiver
• runs away from the home or tries to
• has marks or scars from restraints on wrists
• shows effects of chemical restraints such as incoherence, grogginess, excessive sleep
• sudden fear, restlessness, anxiety
• prevented from getting medical treatment or being alone with visitors

Physical abuse of the elderly, whether in a nursing home, or at home by a caregiver, is a felony and should be prosecuted.

The Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm Prosecute Felony Elder Abuse

If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, because an in-home caregiver or registered nurse in a nursing home has neglected the patient, you may have a felony elder abuse case. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm understand the sensitive nature of elder abuse cases, and will treat you with respect and compassion. It is important to fight felony elder abuse so you, your family, and others no longer suffer because of criminal behavior. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help.803.252.4800