Woman enters guilty plea in nursing home abuse case

ALBERT LEA, Minnesota— Brianna Broitzman this morning has pleaded guilty to three counts of disorderly conduct by a caregiver.

The counts are all gross misdemeanors.

She entered an Alford plea in Freeborn County District Court. An Alford plea assert innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to convict, usually for more severe charges.

Broitzman, 21, is one of six young women who faces charges of abuse of residents at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea from January through May 2008. She and co-defendant Ashton Michelle Larson have been charged as adults.

Four others have been charged as juveniles because they were under 18 at the time of the alleged abuse.

Broitzman’s jury trial was scheduled to begin Aug. 23 in Olmsted County. However, her plea of guilty cancels that.

Broitzman and her lawyer gathered this morning in Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson’s office for a meeting, then later the plea was entered in Freeborn County District Court.
Albert Lea woman enters guilty plea in nursing home abuse case