Weakley Co. woman accused of abusing resident of Ky. nursing home
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WEAKLEY COUNTY, Tenn. — A West Tennessee woman has been indicted on accusations of mistreating an elderly person while working as a caregiver in Kentucky. Crystal Marie Leyhue, 34, of Dresden, was a caregiver at the Haws Memorial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fulton, Ky., when on Nov. 4 she allegedly placed a hot pepper in an 82-year-old resident’s mouth, according to a release from the Office of the Attorney General of Kentucky. Leyhue faces one count of assault in the 4th degree, a Class A misdemeanor, the release states. The indictment was announced Wednesday. She was fired after the alleged incident. Leyhue was heard laughing at the resident’s reaction, and the incident was caught on video, according to the release. Another employee saw the incident take place and reported it to her superiors, the release states. If convicted, Leyhue faces a potential sentence of up to one year in jail. Attorney General Jack Conway‘s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit investigated the case after a referral from the Department of Community Based Services. The case is being prosecuted by Fulton County Attorney Rick Majors.
