Worker who stole from elderly released from prison

ZANESVILLE – A woman who was sentenced to 17 months in prison for stealing money and heirlooms from patients at a nursing home where she worked has been released.

Patricia L. Thomas appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court on Monday, where Judge Mark Fleegle granted her motion for judicial release, opting to now place her on five years of community control.

Thomas, 47, has been an inmate at a Marysville prison since her May 4 sentencing hearing. As part of her community control, she must complete a Genesis alcohol and drug rehabilitation program, as well as a victim awareness program.

Thomas was one of three caretakers at a local nursing home prosecuted for theft after a state investigation determined they had stolen $28,000 worth of cash and jewelry from 17 elderly victims.

The investigation, conducted through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, also concluded that the women were not working together, though they were aware of each other’s actions.

The other two women were both placed on community control on May 4.

But Thomas was by far the worst offender.

Investigators determined that Thomas made $26,398 after selling the stolen items at a pawn shop between 2012 and 2014.

She was originally indicted this year on more than 20 counts for stealing at least 52 pieces of jewelry from patients at the nursing home where she worked as a resident care assistant for six years, according to prosecutors. She pleaded guilty in March to 16 counts of theft, fourth and fifth-degree felonies.

Thomas also involved her daughter, Karly, who was sentenced in May to two years’ community control and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to one felony count of receiving stolen property. Karly Thomas, 22, admitted to pawning a $2,000 bracelet for cash after her mother had stolen it from a resident.

Patricia Thomas filed a motion for a judicial release hearing on July 6, court records show. The county prosecutor’s office deferred the matter to Fleegle’s judgment.

“I’ve learned my lesson and I want to apologize,” Thomas said in court on Monday.

Fleegle made sure Thomas understood that though she is released from prison, she still must pay $23,533 in restitution, as well as court costs.

“That will not replace what these people lost, but it will show you’re trying to redeem yourself of what you did,” Fleegle told her. “I have no tolerance for any violations.”

elagatta@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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Twitter: @EricLagatta