TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. (10/24/2026 1:30 PM) — A Morganton man is charged with felony patient abuse, accused of handling a resident of Valley Nursing Center in a way that broke the man’s femur.
Morganton Public Safety officers arrested Jonathan Philip Cook, 35, early Saturday on a warrant taken out by Taylorsville police. He was booked into the Burke County jail at 3:43 a.m. on a $5,000 secured bond, and court records show the bond was posted about a half hour later.
The warrant does not accuse Cook of hurting the man on purpose. It says the injury came from culpably negligent handling, which state law defines as conduct so reckless it shows disregard for human life. Under state law, a warrant on this charge can only be issued at a district attorney’s request…