Ashley Anna Howard- Larsen, 20, Grand Marais, was sentenced on September 21 on four charges related to theft of narcotics at the North Shore Care Center during her employment there.
An investigation was launched in December 2010 when the disappearance of Fentanyl pain patches was noted by nursing staff. The initial report stated that the pain patches are small and could possibly fall off, or be washed off, a patient’s skin. However, patches continued to disappear even after an additional tegaderm patch was applied to ensure they stayed in place. As the investigation continued, it was noted the patches were falling off only when Howard- Larsen was at work at the Care Center as an aide.
When confronted on December 15, 2010, Howard- Larsen denied removing the patches, but the next day contacted Cook County Chief Deputy Leif Lunde and admitted that she had taken pain patches and then reported them missing. She said she was addicted to narcotics.
Howard-Larsen told Lunde that every time she took a patch off a resident, she reported it missing so the resident could have another patch applied. In Lunde’s report, he wrote that Howard-Larsen said she loved the patients and she didn’t know why she had done what she did. Howard-Larsen resigned from her position at the Care Center.
While awaiting trial, Howard-Larsen voluntarily entered and completed a chemical dependency program. On June 6, 2011 court proceedings were placed on hold after Howard-Larsen was hospitalized due to a reaction from a synthetic drug, a violation of her initial probation. Assistant County Attorney Molly Hicken asked for a delay in court proceedings to allow the defendant to participate in another treatment program, which she did.
On August 3, 2011, Howard- Larsen entered a plea of guilty to the charges of theft/taking/ using movable property without consent; mistreatment of residents or patients; and criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult. Charges of third degree possession of a narcotic in a public housing zone and fifth degree procurement or possession of drugs by fraud or deceit were dismissed.
At the September 21 sentencing, victim impact statements were read from the families of two residents. One family expressed dismay over the mistreatment of their mother, but added that they were glad that Howard-Larsen has sought treatment for her chemical dependency. They wrote, “Knowing how old the residents of Grand Marais tend to live, clearly Ashley has her lifetime ahead of her. So our hope for Ashley is that her treatment will continue to be successful…”
Howard-Larsen received a stay of adjudication, which means if she abides by all of the requirements of probation, her conviction will be dismissed. She must serve five years of probation; complete chemical dependency treatment and aftercare; cooperate with mental health care providers; have no contact with vulnerable adults; pay the minimum fine of $50; and serve 91 days in jail, with credit for the 46 days served. An additional 60 days confinement due to the June 2011 probation violation was stayed for two years with the same terms.
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