By MIKE JAMES
GRAYSON — Two more group home workers have pleaded guilty to abusing a patient, who died later, following what state officials called “a dangerous pattern of abuse.”
Todd Gribbens of Flatwoods and Earl Pelphrey of Grayson pleaded guilty to three felonies — wanton abuse of an adult, first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, according to a statement from Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway’s office.
Gribbens and Pelphrey had been indicted in Carter Circuit Court in the abuse of Michael Price, a mentally handicapped man at Community Presence, a group home in Grayson. Gribbens and Pelphrey worked at Community Presence’s adult day treatment facility.
Price’s abuse and death followed use of a prone restraint technique that is prohibited by state law.
The two men and other caregivers laid on Price’s back and chest for extended periods of time, according to the indictment.
Gribbens and Pelphrey will serve one-year sentences and have agreed to cooperate with the continuing investigation, which is focusing on other Community Presence staff members.
Charges in the case are still pending against Bob Thompson and Michael Yates. Thompson, Regina Stephens and Ira Lee Griffith also face charges in other allegations of patient abuse at the group home.
Two other former workers pleaded guilty in March to charges stemming from Price’s death in 2007.
Matthew Bortles of Soldier and Brandon Starotska of Olive Hill were sentenced to prison terms and barred from ever again working as caregivers.
Price, 25, had cerebral palsy and had lived in Community Presence homes for seven years. State authorities said he stopped breathing and died while being held in a prone position for more than 30 minutes with Bortles laying on his back.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.
