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Good Sam charges expected now in mid-November
Complexity of case to require extra time
Published Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The charges against four teenagers allegedly involved in abuse at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea are now not anticipated to be made until mid-November, Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson said today.
Nelson said he met with representatives of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Monday to discuss the case.
“This is a detailed and complex investigation,” he said. “It’s still going to continue to require additional thorough analysis and deliberation.
“We are continuing to move forward with good, and very diligent speed.”
The details of abuse allegations surfaced after the release of a Minnesota Department of Health report Aug. 28 that concluded four teenagers were involved in verbal, sexual and emotional abuse of 15 residents at the nursing home in Albert Lea.
The Albert Lea Police Department conducted a separate investigation of the case but has not yet released its report.
Two of the teenagers were adults at the time the incidents occurred, and two were 17. They are all now 18 or older.
Two weeks ago, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office took over the prosecution of the two adults allegedly involved in the case.
At that time, Nelson said he thought an objective, third party outside of the community would be better situated to make the final prosecutorial decisions for the adults in the case. However, because the Attorney General’s Office does not prosecute juveniles, the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office will still prosecute the two juveniles allegedly involved.
Both sets of charges will come out at the same time, he said.
Until charges are released, Nelson said, “We are doing a lot of analysis and trying to collate information from all the sources now and graph it out. We may ask for some further investigation.”
The four teenagers identified in reports are no longer employed at the nursing home.
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Comments
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nelson sure does use some intriguing words. Analysis, collate,graph. And where does he get this we business? He but all handed this over to the state. (Although,personally, I think it was taken over by the state) He is taking care of the juvenile charges and we will never know how that investigation is coming along or how it will determined. Besides that, I thought he was acquainted with both victim's and alleged perpetrator's families. Maybe he should withdraw altogether and appoint a different spokesperson for this. I think he lacks credibility at this point. Kind of like Bush coming out every other day about this financial mess we are in.
Posted by edwa0221 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 10:12 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by harriet (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by edwa0221 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Definition of retarded-
slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress.
I read the comment by edwa0221 before it was removed and I think that retarded pretty much fits the emotional development portion of the definition. We have laws and behaivor that makes us a civilized society. When someone crosses the line commenting on what kind punishment needs to be dealt out and posts it on the city newspaper web site they deserve to called out on it. A better comment would have been that hopefully they will receive the harshest sentence if convicted.
Posted by jim_b (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also read the comment and although I think it was a little harsh for a public posting I hope they get what they deserve.
Posted by Cheyenne (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it that about a week ago there was a blurb in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that stated that the State Attorney's Office was considering getting involved in this case but they have not taken it yet?
Posted by wishfulthinking (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
I think it is going to be one of the biggest cover up jobs we have ever seen. We will be told there just is not enough to convict these girls who have no morals or remorse. It is very sad indeed.
Posted by bab42 (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You all need to consider the fact that it may not be a "cover up" if they do not get convicted. It very well may be that they did not do what people have rumored to have happened.
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The girls have already admitted to some pretty disgusting behaivor. The police report is available on-line. It is not rumors if it is verified by the perpetrators themselves.
Posted by dj8887 (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a perfect time to release the names---in NOVEMBER! Wow we all know that the election for prez's is going on during that time. Don't you find it ironic how the names will be released around that time. Talking about covering up or taking away from this big blow up (or call it what you will). demo1960 where do you find that report.
Posted by crysandclay (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dj8887- you can Yahoo! "Good Sam Investigation" and it will bring up numerous links. I always find it to be one of the first couple. Oh, and it's not for faint of heart-it's disgusting because they ADMIT to doing several things so I don't know what bab42 is talking about because there are FACTS! she's probably one of them, or a mom being a part of the cover-up....
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I discovered the report on the Albert Lea Forum. One of the postings included a link to the report. It is a pdf file. And yes, it is pretty sickening. It will make you wonder what the hold-up is on pressing charges. This story has also made regional news. We should all be outraged that this has happened in our community and it certainly appears that someone tried to brush it under a rug. This person did not mention the fact he was acquainted with families of victims and alleged suspects until the state involved themselves. Why didn't he mention it before and contact the state or was he hoping it would all be forgot and he would not have to make a decision? That is what has me wondering how many other cases have not been charged. It would be kind of hard for those resposible for filing charges in a town of a little more than 17,000 to not be acquainted with victims and suspects.
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am personally going to flood the in boxes of the national news programs until someone reports this travesty to the entire country, then Craig Nelson will have no choice but to do the right thing or be exposed. This is not the only case he has dropped the ball on, he should be replaced if he is not going to protect and serve the people of Albert Lea. When this all does come out I hope these immoral "children" who like to abuse helpless people are run out of town !
Posted by tengstrom (Tim Engstrom) on October 2, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, yes, flooding their in boxes definitely will force the national media to do something. Great plan. They will really respect your credibility then.
Also, on an earlier comment, the national election is Nov. 4. That's not exactly "mid-November." Talk about a conspiracy theorist.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the level of proof is different for a simple Minnesota Department of Health report than it is for criminal charges to be brought by state and county prosecutors. Apples. Oranges.
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on October 2, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tengstrom- use your time wisely, go console those predators so they won't be too upset when they are in jail...
Posted by observer (anonymous) on October 2, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tengstrom,
I sense that you are trying to "protect" someone (friend/relative), I have recieved emails back from media that I sent this story too in the Cities, so trying to get the major media involved does work and if it is a credible story the will pick it up. ABC just ran a special on the national news early this week on abuse in homes such as the GS and the fact that it is a problem across the US. Relying on our local media to do a good job of reporting on this case is just not something that the citizens of Albert Lea and Freeborn county can count on. My opinion is the local media is also "connected" to the perpetrators. So PLEASE everyone, E-MAIL this and everything you can get your hands on about the case to all the major media, if enough of us do they may listen and investigate.
Posted by bab42 (anonymous) on October 2, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
crysandclay:
I am not a mom. nor am i related to any of them. I am however part an active participant in the state's investigation, and know first hand that some of the interviews they quote from never even happened. also that they mislead you to believe that the girls admitted to things they did not. Do not pretend to know the "facts" until there has been a trial and the girls and witnesses are all allowed to defend themselves.
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