Linden Woman Charged With Criminal Neglect Of Elderly Woman In Care

LINDEN, NJ — A Linden woman was indicted this week for allegedly neglecting an elderly disabled woman in her care.

The victim suffered heat stroke and second-degree burns after her caretaker placed her for too long in direct sunlight, said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who announced the indictment.

Valerie Pinchinat, 28, of Linden, was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury in Monmouth County on a charge of third-degree neglect of an elderly or disabled person.

According to the Attorney General:

On July 4, 2019, Pinchinat was working at Advancing Opportunities in Marlboro Township, which is a care program for disabled people and seniors.

Prosecutors say she was caring for an elderly woman and she placed the woman in direct sunlight. While it is unknown how long the older woman sat there, prosecutors say it was long enough that she suffered heat stroke and second-degree burns on her legs, chest and arms.

The victim’s body temperature reached 106 degrees and an ambulance had to be called. She was taken by ambulance to Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel and on the ride there, EMTs decided to intubate the elderly woman, which is put her on forced mechanical breathing through a ventilator.

If found guilty, the Linden woman is facing three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

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