Patricia Waible, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to federal agents in July. The statements centered on the death of 68-year-old Bill Nutter, a Vietnam veteran and patient at the VA hospital’s nursing home unit. Hospital staff found Mr. Nutter unresponsive in his bed the morning of July 3, 2016.
Prosecutors allege that during a probe into Mr. Nutter’s death, Ms. Waible falsely told federal investigators, on two separate occasions, that she conducted the hourly night checks. She later admitted to playing video games on her computer instead of regularly checking on Mr. Nutter during her shift.
U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor cited Ms. Waible’s physical health, age, familial responsibilities and previously clean record for the light sentence. Based on the charges, she could’ve faced up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
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