Herald-Leader Staff Report
Attorney General Jack Conway announced Wednesday a plea agreement in the case of two Kentucky therapists who were arrested earlier this year on charges that they bribed a witness.
Vanessa Rouse, a speech pathologist from Deane in Letcher County, and Janice Fields, a developmental interventionist from Happy in Perry County, both pleaded guilty in Perry Circuit Court to bribery of a witness, a class D felony, which carries a one-year sentence.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, each will serve 30 days in the Perry County jail with the remainder of the sentence probated. They will also be on probation for five years.
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- Vanessa Rouse
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- Janice Fields
Both women were indicted in Jefferson Circuit Court for fraudulently billing the Kentucky Medicaid Program for services provided to children in First Steps, a statewide early-intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. Investigators say the therapists allegedly billed the state for services, during 2006 and 2007, that were not provided to children.
After receiving a tip, investigators from Conway’s office conducted surveillance of Rouse and Fields. On April 16, the pair was arrested after investigators monitored a transaction in which Rouse and Fields gave $200 to a prosecution witness in Perry County and instructed the witness on how to testify.
“Without the help of the witness and the thorough and exhaustive investigation by our office, justice might not have been served in this case. These two women clearly crossed the line, and I’m pleased to see this portion of the case come to a close,” Conway said in a statement.
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18 in Perry Circuit Court. The Medicaid Fraud case against Rouse and Fields is still pending in Jefferson Circuit Court. Rouse faces eight counts of Medicaid Fraud; Fields faces four counts.
What a shame that those who are supposed to help others with disabilities or limitations are so unethical and criminal. Sure hope their services are no longer used in their communities and that they have trouble getting future work in their fields. What a waste of a hard-earned college education!
Who are you kidding? A felony is prerequisite to most high paying jobs in that area. Don’t read the news
make them work without pay! How can they be so unethical and greedy?
Bar them providing therapy. They apparently have no ethics whatsoever.
What’s sad is they are only going to serve 30 days! That’s just a slap on the wrist! They should have all their license stripped and it truly is a waist of a college education. It also puts distrust in our communities, people will distrust those who are truly there to help, not help themselves to cash!