Father defends teen charged in Albert Lea nursing home abuse

The father of one of the southern Minnesota teenagers charged with sexually humiliating and abusing numerous vulnerable nursing home residents said in a nationally televised statement today that some of the allegations against his daughter are not "as they appear" and "have been distorted" in news accounts.

The statement was issued to NBC-TV's "Today" show by Michael Larson, father of 18-year-old nursing home aide Ashton Michelle Larson.

The comments are the first made by anyone connected to the eight teenage girls who worked at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Albert Lea, where the abuse is alleged to have happened for several months early this year, and implicated in the case.

"Not all of the charges are as they appear," said Michael Larson, Ashton's father. "Much of this has been distorted by the news media."

Charged as adults Monday with maltreatment of seven residents were Brianna Marie Broitzman , 19, who faces 11 charges, and Ashton Michelle Larson, 18, who faces 10.

The six others, all 17 at the time of the alleged abuse, were identified only by birthdates and initials. Four were charged Monday in juvenile court with failure to report maltreatment.

According to the criminal complaint, Ashton Larson admitted to police that she inserted her finger into a resident's rectum. She said she was trying to trigger a bowel movement but acknowledged that this was not part of her training.

She also admitted getting into bed with a resident and making a humping motion. "I might have done the motion [humping], but she was no where near me," the complaint quotes Larson as telling police.

She also admitted to patting the buttocks of one resident and trying to get another mad and then laughing at her.

Michael Larson contended in his statement that "my daughter was doing nothing more than performing the duties of her job."

Nursing home administrator Mark Anderson told "Today" that he was "in disbelief" when the allegations were first brought to his attention and "could not believe that the information that was coming forward ... could even be possible."

On Ashton Larson's MySpace page, which was last accessed on the day the charges were filed, she wrote: "i hate when there is nothing to do ... i cant stand being bored ... ah its fun gettin to know new people ... im up for anything."

The charges against Broitzman say she admitted to police that she poked one resident in the breast. Other teens who were implicated told police about numerous actions by Broitzman, among them: spitting in a resident's mouth, jabbing the breasts of several residents and putting "her bare butt" on a resident's face.

On her MySpace page, Broitzman wrote, "I love doing random things and being goofy ... my friends are the best ... im pretty open to doin anything as long as its havin fun."

Broitzman and Larson are charged with fifth-degree assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct and failing to report suspected maltreatment. All are gross misdemeanors, with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine for each count.

If found guilty, they most likely will face suspended jail sentences and probation, said Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson. Broitzman and Larson are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 21.

Ever since the charges were filed, the case has gone viral on news blogs and other websites around the world, most notably on drudgereport.com and thesmokinggun.com.

The allegations became public in August when state Health Department inspectors concluded that four aides, to make their "work fun," had abused 15 residents suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482