A man accused of intentionally harming an 87-year-old resident of a Texarkana nursing home appeared in court for the first time Monday afternoon.
Billy Ray Ramey, 62, was working as a nurse at Heritage Plaza Nursing Center when he allegedly caused a resident to fall and suffer a skin tear on his arm April 3, according to a probable cause affidavit. The elderly resident, who suffers from dementia, was holding the wheels of a wheelchair, preventing it from moving forward as nurses attempted to return him to his room early that morning.
Ramey was reportedly summoned to assist with returning the man to his room. Three nurses reported that Ramey shook the man's chair as the man stood up, causing him to fall to the floor and suffer a skin tear.
"The witnesses stated that Ramey advised that he 'wasn't dealing with the (expletive) jacking around tonight' prior to and during the incident when he was called to help," the affidavit states. "The witnesses stated that Ramey left him in the floor and refused to return him to his wheelchair and take him back to his room."
The elderly man allegedly suffered a large skin tear to his right forearm when he fell.
Ramey appeared in court Monday afternoon with Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson for a pre-indictment hearing before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. The case has been rescheduled for a second pre-indictment hearing July 1.
If convicted, Ramey faces six months to two years in a Texas state jail. He is eligible to receive probation.
First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards are prosecuting.