Nursing homeowner Bob Dean is facing criminal charges for the 2021 evacuation of seven of his facilities to a Tangipahoa Parish warehouse during Hurricane Ida. More than a dozen patients died shortly afterward. Among the charges is cruelty to the infirm and Dean’s attorney John McLindon said his client was unable to travel to Louisiana due to the storm.
“So, I’m a little confused on how he can be charged with cruelty to the infirm, he wasn’t even there, so that’s going to be one of the issues we’re taking a look at,” said McLindon.
More than 800 patients from seven of Dean’s nursing homes were placed in the warehouse.
An attorney representing Dean against civil charges said the 68-year-old businessman is unable to travel due to dementia, but McLindon would only say Dean’s health is an issue.
In addition to eight felony counts of cruelty to the infirm, Dean is also charged with five counts of Medicaid Fraud and two counts of obstruction of justice. McLindon said his client posted bond and has returned to his home in Georgia, but Dean has been ordered to return to Louisiana for court.
“He will have to appear in court, he cannot send me as a representative. He cannot do Zoom, he wants him back for every court appearance,” said McLindon.
McLindon said during the evacuation employees of Dean did the best they could under the circumstances and the warehouse was not in the original predicted path of Ida. He said Dean and his employees were simply following the Louisiana Department of Health, approved emergency plan.
“Which is approved by the state. A facility to where these patients were taken, was approved by the state, and actually, the first two or three days the state had surveyors out there and everything was fine,” said McLindon.
The Tangipahoa Paris Sheriff’s Office said Dean’s $350,000 bail conditions include an ankle monitor, surrender of his firearms and passport, and a mental evaluation. Dean is also facing criminal charges in Georgia after firing a weapon on another person’s property in which Dean lost his thumb.
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