Nurse convicted of felony theft at assisted-living facility

LIMA — A nurse who worked at an assisted-living facility faces up to 18 months in prison when she is sentenced next month for stealing from a resident.

Deanna Lindeman, 41, pleaded guilty to theft from an elderly person, a fourth-degree felony. She is scheduled to be sentenced March 19 before Judge Jeffrey Reed of Allen County Common Pleas Court.

Lindeman stole jewelry valued at more than $1,000 from a woman in her 90s living at Primrose on West Elm Street, said Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Terri Kohlrieser.

An Allen County Sheriff’s Office detective found the ring at either a local pawn shop or jewelry store, and was able to return it to the woman. The two necklaces were not recovered, Kohlrieser said.

Lindeman resigned her job at Primrose after the incident, Primrose Retirement Community attorney Mark McNeary said.

The resident notified officials at Primrose of the possible theft. Primrose then called the Sheriff’s Office, Kohlrieser said.

The woman had worked at Primrose as a nurse for about a year but had been a nurse for 16 years. Primrose conducted a thorough background check, including a criminal records check, which the woman passed in order to be hired, McNeary said.

“This was an isolated incident,” he said.

The incident took place around the Christmas holidays, Kohlrieser said.

Kohlrieser said a felony conviction likely will affect Lindeman’s status as a nurse but she did not know specifics. A spokesperson for the state board that licenses nurses could not be reached for comment Monday.