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Snapchat photo of incontinent nursing home patient leads to arrest and guilty plea for nurse's aide

A former nurse’s aide at a nursing home in upstate New York has pleaded guilty to violation of health laws after he was accused of posting a genitals photo of an incontinent nursing home patient on Snapchat.

The aide, 21-year-old Edward Melock of Depew, was accused of sending the photo to an acquaintance in March 2013 using the app, which displays photos for a short time. The Associated Press, Buffalo News and WKBW have stories. A press release is here.

Melock was originally charged with unlawful surveillance and dissemination of an unlawful surveillance image, both felonies, along with willful violation of health laws, a misdemeanor. Melock was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service for the plea to violation of health laws. He also surrendered his certified nursing assistant certificate.

He admitted taking the photo while cleaning the patient, labeling it “chocolate covered balls,” according to the WKBW account.