Nursing home worker gets prison for stealing 92-year-old patient's drugs

A McHenry County man was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting today to accusations he poked holes in a 92-year-old Alzheimer patient's medication patch to get at its potent painkiller.

Jeremiah J. Healless, 25, of Harvard, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of a controlled substance as part of an agreement in which a judge also ordered he undergo substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.

In return for the guilty plea, county prosecutors agreed to dismiss additional charges of aggravated battery, unlawful acquisition of a controlled substance and theft stemming from Healless' arrest in May.

Authorities said Healless, a certified nursing assistant, went into the patient's room at Fair Oaks Health Care Center in Crystal Lake, poked holes in her Fentanyl patch, pinched it to get the drug to ooze out, then licked the powerful painkiller off his fingers.

Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney David Metnick said Healless' actions were caught on surveillance video after a nursing home staffer noticed signs of tampering with the woman's patch.

The patient's son, James Vermillion of Cary, said his mother, Ruth, is a former social worker who now suffers from full-blown Alzheimer's disease. Her only relief, he said, is the painkilling effects of the patch.

"The only quality of life she has is to be pain free, and he took that away from her," he said.

Vermillion added, however, that he was happy to see Healless take responsibility for his actions.

"I would like him to eventually become a productive member of society," he said. "I think we have to be held accountable for our actions, and am glad he's getting some jail time, but I'm also glad to see he's getting the help he needs."

Healless did not address the court today, but in a previous written statement for police he said he has a drug problem and suffers from depression and anxiety.

"I need help. This is not the person I want to be," he wrote, according to Metnick. "I didn't mean to cause this pain to Ruth and her family."

With credit for time served since his arrest, as well as likely time off for good behavior in prison, Healless could go free in less than a year. However, prison officials could keep him longer depending on the status of his drug treatment.