Beshear: Two former Hazard caregivers plead guilty to abusing, neglecting adult

HAZARD, Ky. (WTVQ) – Attorney General Andy Beshear and his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse have announced the guilty pleas of two former caregivers on abuse charges of a vulnerable Kentuckian at a Hazard mental and physical disability facility in 2016.

He says 43-year-old Penny Caudill and 42-year-old John Hundley, both of Hazard, each plead guilty to one count of wanton abuse or neglect of an adult, as a result of an incident that occurred around, Sept. 29, 2016.

According to court documents, Hundley dragged a person who was participating in adult day training at the Hazard facility across the floor and out onto the front porch of the building.

As a result, the individual suffered significant injuries.

Beshear says Caudill, also acting as a caregiver, observed the injury of the individual at the time of Hundley’s actions, but she failed to arrange for professional medical treatment or prepare an incident report, according to court documents.

Hundley and Caudill were placed on leave during the investigation and no longer work at the facility.

Caudill’s plea was an Alford plea, which allows a defendant to plead guilty even while unable or unwilling to admit guilt. She will be sentenced Feb. 28 in Perry County Circuit Court. The Commonwealth is recommending a sentence of three years diverted for a period of three years.

Hundley was sentenced Nov. 19, 2018, to three years probated for five years.

Caudill and Hundley will be placed on the Kentucky Caregiver Misconduct Registry.

The Attorney General’s tip line for reporting allegations of Medicaid provider fraud or patient abuse is 877-ABUSE-TIP (877-228-7384).