Teens Charged With Nursing Home Abuse

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (STMW) — Two northwest suburban teenage employees of a nursing home have been charged with physically abusing an elderly resident and videotaping the incident, the Courier-News is reporting.

South Elgin residents Chemyra Barnett, 18, of the 300 block of Watch Court; and Jacqueline Santos, 18, of the 1300 block of Timber Lane, are charged with aggravated battery of a person over 60, and unlawful videotaping, St. Charles policed reported Friday.

Their Facebook pages indicate both are students at South Elgin High School.

They appeared in bond court Friday morning at the Kane County Judicial Center. Bail was set at $15,000 for each, and they were given March 27 court dates.

Conditions of the bail included no entry to the care center and no contact with the victim or the family, officials said.

Both also were banned from possessing a cell phone or disseminating the video in any way as part of their bail.

According to St. Charles Police spokesperson Lisa Blackwell, St. Charles police were called Thursday to the Rosewood Care Center, 850 Dunham Road.

An administrator at the center told police that two employees, Santos and Barnett, were suspected of physically abusing an elderly resident at the facility and videotaping the incident.

The victim, who officials said is 98 years old, was reportedly uninjured during this incident, Blackwell said.

Following further investigation by St. Charles police, the two suspects were arrested and charged, Blackwell said.

Both Barnett and Santos worked at the facility for less than a year, police said.

The St. Charles Police Department is asking that if anyone has any additional information or concerns, to please contact them at 630-377-4435 or the Drug & Crime Tip Line at 1-866-378-4267.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)