Nurse Assistant Convicted For Sexually Abusing Elderly Man

State Attorney General Spitzer announced today that his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has obtained a conviction against a former employee of a Canton nursing home who sodomized an elderly resident.

The defendant Edward A. Law, Jr.,19, of Edwards, New York pled guilty late yesterday afternoon in St. Lawrence County Court to "Sodomy in the Third Degree," an E felony punishable by four years in prison. The incident took place at the United Helpers Canton Nursing Home in July 1998.

"We have no tolerance for those abusing the elderly and infirm," said Spitzer. "This conviction sends a clear message to those who abuse our most vulnerable C that prosecution will be swift and encompass the full measure of the law."

As part of the plea, Law admits to sodomizing the 76-year-old male resident while he was employed as a certified nursing assistant at the nursing home. He worked there for approximately four months before being terminated as a result of this incident.

As a condition of his plea, Law permanently surrendered his certified nursing assistant license. Judge Eugene Nicandri placed the defendant on interim probation until sentencing December 6.

Special Assistant Attorney General Ralph D. Tortora, III handled the prosecution for the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. All Medicaid Fraud cases are filed under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Jose Maldonado.