PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman will be on trial later this summer for allegedly stealing $21,000 from a person with dementia at her assisted-living facility, which was shut down by the state last month.
Rhonda Renee Goudie, 44, is charged with six counts of first-degree theft and one count of money laundering. She pleaded not guilty in Clallam County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Goudie’s trial begins Aug. 31 and will last for four days.
Each count is a Class B felony and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
The charges stem from a Port Angeles Police Department investigation in June that found that an 86-year-old man with dementia made six extra monthly rent payments — totalling $21,000 — to Goudie’s business — Olympic RN Homecare at 1725 W. 11th St. in Port Angeles — or to her personal bank account this year.
The state Department of Social and Health Services came to the same conclusion in its investigation, which resulted in the suspension of Goudie’s license to operate an assisted-living facility. Goudie was notified of the suspension in a letter dated June 16.
All of the four residents have been relocated, the state said.
Goudie, reached by phone Wednesday, said that she is “definitely, absolutely not guilty” but added that, upon advice from her attorney, she couldn’t elaborate or answer questions.
Wants to tell her side
“I just need to be able to tell my side,” she said, referring to the trial.
“I loved the people that I had at the house, and that’s really all I can say. It’s heartbreaking. It’s very tough for everybody.”
The man who was overcharged told police that he wrote rent checks whenever he was asked, according to a police probable cause statement.
The court document also says that the same amount that the man was overcharged was deposited into his bank account by Goudie’s mother, Judi Sullivan, in June.
Sullivan, reached by telephone Wednesday, confirmed that she had deposited $21,000 into the man’s account. She declined further comment.
Police Cpl. Bruce Knight said Goudie turned herself in by making a pre-arranged appearance in Clallam County Superior Court with her attorney, Karen Unger of Port Angeles, on Friday. Judge Ken Williams determined that day that she could be released without bail.
A warrant for her arrest had not been issued, Knight said.
“If she knows that we have probable cause to arrest her, her attorney can make arrangements with the [Clallam County] Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to appear at afternoon court,” he said.
Goudie’s assisted-living facility opened in April 2007.
DSHS had conducted two regular inspections previously, one in January 2008 and the other in April, said Nancy Tyson, DSHS regional administrator, in June.
Violations during the April inspection included food-handler permit issues and three prescription violations, she said.
On May 14, DSHS cited Goudie for not accounting for narcotics. In response, the agency required her to hire a registered nurse to review and revise the medication system.
Tyson said that this was done, but the problems hadn’t been resolved by the June 16 closure.
She said the investigation was prompted by at least one complaint.
Goudie can request an administrative hearing or informal dispute resolution process, DSHS said.
If she does not request the hearing, the effective date of the revocation of her adult family home license will be 29 days from the date she received the DSHS letter suspending her license.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
