Former Certified Nursing Assistant Arraigned for Alleged Abuse of 92 Year Old Hospice Resident

TAUNTON -A former Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the Southeast Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center in Easton was arraigned in Taunton District Court in connection with the alleged assault of a 92-year-old hospice resident at the facility. Margally Samy, age 48, of Brockton, is charged with one count of Assault and Battery on an Elderly Person.

In April 2010, the Attorney General's Office began an investigation after the matter was referred by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Investigators discovered that in March 2010, Samy was assisting the victim with personal care services in his room. At one point the victim became resistant to the care and authorities allege that Samy responded by physically assaulting the victim. This act was witnessed by another CNA. The facility terminated Samy's employment after it conducted an internal investigation into the matter. After DPH investigated the matter, the case was referred to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution.

Samy was arraigned in Taunton District Court yesterday where she entered a plea of not guilty before Judge David Turcotte. Samy was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the facility and the victim. Samy is due back in court on August 30, 2010 for a pre-trial conference.

Assistant Attorney General Casey Groff of Attorney General Martha Coakley's Medicaid Fraud Division is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Investigator Linda Landry, also of the Medicaid Fraud Division. The Bristol District Attorney's Office assisted in the arraignment.

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