JACKSON, Miss. -- Jimmy Breakfield, owner of Star B Rest Home, and Charlotte Coleman, a Star B Rest Home employee, entered guilty pleas for their involvement in the abuse of a Star B Rest Home resident. The guilty pleas were entered Dec. 8, before Judge R.I. Prichard,III in the Circuit Court of Marion County. Special Assistant Attorney General Scott Johnson with the Medicaid Fraud Division of the Attorney Generalís office prosecuted the cases. Coleman pled guilty to felonious abuse of a vulnerable adult who was a resident of Star B Rest Home. Coleman admitted to whipping the resident on the buttocks with a automobile fan belt.

Breakfield was originally charged as an Accessory Before-the- Fact. The Attorney Generalís office accepted a guilty plea to Misdemeanor in violation of 43-47-19(2)(a), omitting the performance of a duty which omission tended to contribute to the physical pain of the victim (i.e., failing to prevent one of his employees, Charlotte Coleman, from whipping said victim, a vulnerable adult). Breakfield was allowed to enter a misdemeanor plea because Coleman's testimony contained inconsistencies, and any corroborating witnesses were unable to testify due to mental illness.

Breakfield was sentenced by Order Reducing Charge to Misdemeanor as follows: 1) To sixty days in Marion County Jail suspended upon defendant's good behavior for a period of 12 months; 2) Defendant shall pay a fine in the amount of $500; and, 3) Payment of Court costs in the amount of $272.00. Sentencing for Charlotte Coleman was Dec. 17.

Attorney General Jim Hood stated, "Those who beat on our most vulnerable citizens need to be under the penitentiary."