RR Morningstar employee one of four charged in DOJ elderly abuse cases

RIO RANCHO — An employee of Morningstar of Rio Rancho Assisted Living Facility was one of four in the state charged by the New Mexico Department of Justice with elder/resident abuse.

“These charges send a clear message that abuse of vulnerable New Mexicans will not be tolerated,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said. “The treatment of our elders and residents in care facilities is a direct reflection of our values as a community. When caregivers violate that trust and inflict harm, they not only hurt individuals but undermine the safety and dignity of our entire system of care. My office will use every tool at our disposal to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable and to restore trust in the care these individuals deserve.”

Edwars Bonilla-Aguinada, 34, was charged Dec. 2 with abuse of a 89-year-old resident at the Rio Rancho facility and will face six months in prison if convicted.

According to a criminal complaint provided by the DOJ, Bonilla-Aguinada “intentionally and inappropriately ‘roughly handled’ and exhibited inappropriate conduct that was likely to cause harm or that resulted and might reasonably be expected to result in fear or emotional or mental distress to a resident under her care at Morningstar Rio Rancho Assisted Living Facility.”

The complaint states that Bonilla-Aguinada was attempting to assist the resident in the shower after they soiled themself. The victim is reported to have advanced Alzheimer’s and can be pleasant in morning hours but presents signs of sundowning, or aggression, in the evenings. They are also reportedly known to be a bit difficult when showering and being “changed.” During this incident, the victim became aggressive toward Bonilla-Aguinada and refused to cooperate. The complaint notes that in company policy, staff are directed to back off when residents refuse care and try again later.

The DOJ states that Bonilla-Aguinada did not follow that policy and instead became physically aggressive toward the victim. She reportedly pushed the victim onto the bed, causing the victim’s head to snap backward. Then she forced the victim’s left leg over her right leg, which aggressively threw the victim on their back. Bonilla-Aguinada then grabbed the victim by the waist of their pants and yanked them backward. The victim then fell on the floor.

The cases stem from investigations launched after referrals from partner agencies and reports from the public. Each incident involves allegations of verbal or physical abuse against individuals entrusted for the care of the victims.

The state DOJ also announced charges against the following:

• Salomon Sanchez, an employee at Community Options, Inc., a Developmental Disabilities Waiver group home in Santa Fe, was captured on video forcibly grabbing a resident, shoving the victim’s face toward a table, and refusing assistance while making degrading comments.

• Lee Carrizales, an employee at Pacifica Senior Living Facility, is charged with two counts of abuse of a resident for verbally assaulting two facility members. Videos of this abuse were posted on Facebook and alerted to the DOJ by the New Mexico Department of Health.

• Linda Romero, a paid caregiver, is accused of striking a Developmentally Disabled Waiver recipient multiple times in front of several witnesses.