Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Two Eastern Kentucky Therapists Plead Guilty.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (November 19, 2008) – Attorney General Jack Conway today announced a plea agreement was reached in the case of two Kentucky therapists arrested earlier this year on charges that they bribed a witness. Vanessa Rouse, a speech pathologist from Deane in Letcher County, and Janice Fields, a developmental interventionist from Happy in Perry County, both pled guilty in Perry Circuit Court to bribery of a witness, a class D felony, which carries a one-year sentence.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, each will serve 30 days in the Perry County jail with the remainder of the sentence probated. They will also be on probation for five years.
Rouse and Fields were indicted in Jefferson Circuit Court for fraudulently billing the Kentucky Medicaid Program for services provided to children in First Steps, a statewide early-intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. During 2006 and 2007, the therapists allegedly billed the state for services that were not provided to children.
Following receipt of a tip, investigators from the Office of the Attorney conducted surveillance of Rouse and Fields. On April 16, the pair was arrested after investigators monitored a transaction in which Rouse and Fields gave $200 to a prosecution witness in Perry County and instructed the witness as to how to testify.
“Without the help of the witness and the thorough and exhaustive investigation by our office, justice might not have been served in this case. These two women clearly crossed the line, and I’m pleased to see this portion of the case come to a close,” General Conway said.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 18 in Perry Circuit Court. The Medicaid Fraud case against Rouse and Fields is still pending in Jefferson Circuit Court. Rouse faces eight counts of Medicaid Fraud while Fields faces four counts.
An indictment or arrest is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until or unless found guilty.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, each will serve 30 days in the Perry County jail with the remainder of the sentence probated. They will also be on probation for five years.
Rouse and Fields were indicted in Jefferson Circuit Court for fraudulently billing the Kentucky Medicaid Program for services provided to children in First Steps, a statewide early-intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. During 2006 and 2007, the therapists allegedly billed the state for services that were not provided to children.
Following receipt of a tip, investigators from the Office of the Attorney conducted surveillance of Rouse and Fields. On April 16, the pair was arrested after investigators monitored a transaction in which Rouse and Fields gave $200 to a prosecution witness in Perry County and instructed the witness as to how to testify.
“Without the help of the witness and the thorough and exhaustive investigation by our office, justice might not have been served in this case. These two women clearly crossed the line, and I’m pleased to see this portion of the case come to a close,” General Conway said.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 18 in Perry Circuit Court. The Medicaid Fraud case against Rouse and Fields is still pending in Jefferson Circuit Court. Rouse faces eight counts of Medicaid Fraud while Fields faces four counts.
An indictment or arrest is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until or unless found guilty.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 7:17 PM 
