Mercer County Home Health Aide Charged With Stealing From Patient

Lawrence Township, NJ — The New Jersey State Board of Nursing has temporarily suspended the certifications of two certified homemaker-home health aides charged with committing crimes against their patients.

Authorities charged Dionne Eke, of Lawrence Township, with theft by unlawful taking for allegedly making several unauthorized charges on a patient’s credit/debit cards, as well as using a blank check belonging to the patient and writing an unauthorized amount or money titled “Loan” that she did not pay back to the patient.

Authorities charged Robin L. Frye, of Newark, with sexual assault by force or coercion and related offenses for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with an elderly female patient who resided at the nursing facility where he worked.

Frye and Eke are barred from working with patients until the charges against them are resolved, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino stated in a Friday news release.

Both Frye and Eke have voluntarily surrendered their certifications to be deemed interim suspensions pending the disposition of their criminal cases and further order by the board, authorities said.

According to prosecutors, both men worked as certified homemaker-home health aides (CHHA) and are “employees of healthcare service firms that work under the direction of registered professional nurses to perform tasks for elderly, disabled or sick patients.”

The attorney general news release did not name the specific facilities where the two men worked.

According to prosecutors, CHHA workers help patients dress, take a bath, and use the toilet or bedpan. They may also prepare patient meals, do light laundering, tidy the patient's room, run errands and assist with exercise regimens.

“CHHAs spend significant time alone with their patients, making it extremely important that they abide by the professional and ethical standards set for them,” New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Director Steve Lee said.

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