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Suspect in Back Mountain overdose death pleads not guilty

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AP Source: Florida St. expects Jimbo Fisher to leave for Texas A&M

<p>HARRISBURG &#8212; Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday announced felony charges against an Erie resident for allegedly pouring scalding water on a mentally disabled man, severely burning him.</p><p>Akeem Nixon, 26, was charged with neglect of a care-dependent person and aggravated assault &#8212; first-degree felonies.</p><p>The victim was hospitalized for 17 days and suffered second-degree burns over 20 percent of his body.</p><p>&#8220;This defendant assaulted a disabled man in his care with scalding water,&#8221; Shapiro said in a news release. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to hold him accountable for this criminal conduct. We&#8217;re using every resource at our disposal to protect care-dependent Pennsylvanians.&#8221;</p><p>According to the release:</p><p>&#8226; Nixon poured scalding water on the man living at Lakeshore Community Services in Erie while Nixon was employed as a direct support aide at the residential home for intellectually disabled persons. Nixon was suspended from his job the day after the incident, and he has not returned to work.</p><p>&#8226; On June 17, Nixon and another support aide were scheduled to work during the day, with the other aide planning to attend an off-site event with another Lakeshore resident. Nixon stayed at the residence alone with the victim, a 38-year-old man with cerebral palsy.</p><p>&#8226; When the other caregiver returned that evening, Nixon told him the victim was asleep. Nixon left a short time later at the end of his shift. Another support aide arrived, and the victim emerged from his bedroom. The victim said, &#8220;Hurt, hurt,&#8221; according to a complaint. Both caregivers observed burns on the victim, and quickly transported him to a hospital.</p><p>&#8226; At the hospital, a doctor evaluated the victim&#8217;s injuries, and estimated the victim had second-degree burns covering 20 percent of his body. Medical records show the victim sustained &#8220;deep and partial superficial thickness burns to his buttocks, bilateral groin, abdomen, chest and back.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; Based on medical evidence of the burns, statements from the victim and safety protocols in place at the Lakeshore residence, investigators determined the victim could not have heated water to a temperature able to cause the severe burns himself. The victim also verbally indicated Nixon was the person responsible for his injuries.</p><p>&#8220;Strong collaboration between Erie Police and our agents made the arrest of this support aide possible,&#8221; Shapiro said. &#8220;Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit&#8217;s Neglect Team works every day to protect seniors and vulnerable citizens and will pursue justice against anyone who harms a care-dependent Pennsylvanian.&#8221;</p><p>Nixon was arraigned on the charges Wednesday night in Erie, and bail was set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing will be held Dec. 7. The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Nathan Giunta of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Neglect Team.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Shapiro </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_Senate-Pennsylvania-_Sopr-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Shapiro </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Times Leader Staff</p></bylineMeta></div>

AG arrests aide for allegedly pouring scalding water on disabled patient