Portsmouth Woman Found Guilty Of Abusing Elderly Patient In Dover

CONCORD, NH — A 19-year-old Portsmouth woman has been found guilty of simple assault and abuse of a 92-year-old patient at St. Ann's Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Dover. Samantha Siegel, a former employee of the facility, recorded herself putting a hand over the patient's mouth last year and then showed the recording to other people, according to the Attorney General's Office. She was found guilty at Dover District Court Tuesday and has filed for appeal.

On the charge of abusing a facility patient, Siegel was sentenced to nine months in jail, with all but 90 days suspended, and two years of probation. On the simple assault charge, she was sentenced to six months in jail, all suspended pending good behavior, as well as fined $500. Because she has filed for appeal, her sentence was vacated pending the appeal process, the AG's Office stated.

The charges against Siegel state she assaulted the patient in July 2018. According to the AG's Office, the staff at St. Ann's learned about the incident on July 20, 2018 after receiving a tip from a retail employee who saw the recording on Siegel's phone. St. Ann's staff immediately notified the Dover Police Department, which investigated the case and arrested Siegel.

Both the simple assault and the abuse of a facility patient charges are Class A misdemeanors. According to the AG's Office, anyone convicted in district court of a Class A misdemeanor has the right to appeal to the superior court for trial by jury. Siegel's case has now been moved to Strafford County Superior Court for a jury trial at a future date.

The AG's Office asks that anyone who suspects abuse, neglect or mistreatment at a health care facility to notify the local police department or call the AG's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 603-271-1246.