Former nursing home manager pleads guilty in theft case

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A former Tulsa nursing home manager admitted Wednesday to taking money from resident trust fund accounts. <br><br>Cheryl McGuire, 35, pleaded guilty in Tulsa County District Court

Wednesday, January 8th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A former Tulsa nursing home manager admitted Wednesday to taking money from resident trust fund accounts.

Cheryl McGuire, 35, pleaded guilty in Tulsa County District Court to nine counts of caretaker abuse, the state Attorney General's Office said.

McGuire was sentenced to five years on each count, with all but 90 days suspended, and given 10 years probation. She must pay $13,731 in restitution and is prohibited from working as a caretaker for 10 years.

McGuire was arrested in November after an investigation by the Medicaid fraud unit of the Attorney General's Office.

McGuire was accused of taking $5,168 in November 2001 from trust accounts belonging to eight residents of Tulsa Nursing Center. She used the money to buy a 14-karat gold princess-cut diamond ring worth $2,499 and a 14-karat gold wedding band worth $899, authorities said.

The state also accused McGuire of taking $1,500 in December 2001 from a ninth resident's account and putting the money in her own checking account.