Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

When the Manatee, Florida, high school volunteer saw the two developmentally challenged men sitting alone in the gymnasium after a basketball game, she notified sheriff’s deputies. The deputies questioned the two men, ages 51 and 65, but found them both to be “very confused.” An hour passed before North West Care Center employee Leticia Odessa Peay returned for the men. She said she had taken them to a ball game but that she understood another nursing home employee would be picking them up, according to the Bradenton Herald.

She also gave authorities a false name, for there was a warrant out for her arrest after she failed to appear in court two weeks ago on a charge of driving with a suspended license. She was also on probation after pleading guilty to a Jan. 6 marijuana possession charge.

Deputies placed Peay under arrest and charged her with two counts of neglect of a disabled person. They also arrested her for the outstanding warrants and for giving a false name to a law enforcement officers. She is being held in Manatee County jail on $12,120 bond.

The nursing home administrator said Peay had worked for the company for several years, but that she was fired over the incident. Residents of North West Care Center are routinely taken on field trips to sporting events or to the theater; however, employees must follow strict guidelines, such as never leaving a resident alone. As a safety measure, North West Care Center is conducting training sessions for all staff.

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