DOVER — An East Rochester woman began serving two years in prison Wednesday for defrauding an elderly relative, and the administration of Riverside Rest Home, where she was employed for nearly two decades.
Jennifer Bryant, 48, was arrested last year, charged with fraud after allegedly stealing Social Security checks from a relative who is a resident of Riverside Rest Home, which is operated by Strafford County. She used her job as the nursing home’s billing coordinator to fraudulently bring her elderly relative’s bill to zero and then spent the money on herself.
Through her attorney, Brian Joseph Stone, Bryant entered a plea agreement, which was accepted by the court.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan Townsend said Bryant pleaded guilty to a Class A felony charge of theft by unauthorized taking. He said the state will not process a second charge of financial exploitation. She was sentenced to 5-10 years in state prison.
“Three years of her sentence, based on the minimum, were suspended, so she will serve two years,” Townsend said.