Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a state-employed caregiver accused of battering a resident at an assisted living center in Waukegan. The defendant’s lawyer said his client was “railroaded.”
Brandy L. Johnson, 42, of Beach Park, was charged with one count of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony, and one count of abuse of a long-term care facility resident, a Class 3 felony.
Johnson worked as an Illinois Department of Human Services medical health technician at the Ann Kiley Developmental Center in Waukegan.
The Ann Kiley Center serves a broad spectrum of individuals with moderate to high behavioral and low to moderate medical needs.
The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation opened an investigation in December after being notified by the Illinois Department of Human Services of an allegation of physical abuse to a resident at the center.
The Illinois State Police said the resident was inappropriately grabbed and battered during an altercation.
Johnson was arrested in February after the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges against her in the case.
On Tuesday, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office dismissed both charges against Johnson during a motion of defense hearing, court records show.
Elliot Pinsel, Johnson’s attorney, told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that investigators in the case “railroaded” his client.
Pinsel said that investigators did not interview critical witnesses in the case.
Pinsel also said that key witnesses recanted their testimony and statements made against Johnson were not properly documented or followed up.
“There were a lot of misleading things that caused her [Johnson] to be charged. There was so much evidence that pointed it was not her,” Pinsel said.