Mo. nurse assistant charged with elder abuse

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- A former employee at a Carthage nursing home is charged with hitting a wheelchair-bound resident in the groin and forcing water into the man's nose until he turned purple.

Nurse assistant Dennis Rowe faces felony elder abuse charges. Missouri health officials said the attack took place in April 2007 at the Carthage Health and Rehabilitation Center. Rowe is scheduled for a Sept. 11 preliminary hearing in Jasper County.

A probable-cause affidavit said another male employee of the center asked Rowe how he controlled the resident while caring for him. The document said Rowe agreed to demonstrate, then began to assault the man and force water into his nasal passage.

A probable cause statement said the flow caused the man to choke and "turn purple." It said Rowe continued the assault until the other employee stopped him.