TRENTON – A Manchester nurse has admitted assaulting and neglecting an elderly nursing home resident at a rehabilitation facility in Ocean County, state officials announced.
Lisa L. Erikson, 57, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Kimarie Rahill to second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and third-degree neglect of an elderly adult.
Under the plea agreement, Erikson will permanently surrender her nursing license. Prosecutors will recommend that she serve 364 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation. Her sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.
Authorities said Erikson was working as a licensed practical nurse at a rehabilitation and nursing center in Whiting on March 19, 2025, when she assaulted a male resident who had dementia, depression and anxiety.
According to court records and statements made during the plea hearing, Erikson retrieved her personal pepper spray, approached the resident and sprayed him at close range while he tried to protect himself. She sprayed him a second time and left him lying on the floor, authorities said.
The man remained without assistance for several minutes before crawling to his feet and entering another resident’s room. Erikson and another person then forcibly returned him to his room, closed the door and again failed to provide care, officials said.
Police and emergency medical personnel eventually responded to the facility. The resident was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital.
During her plea, Erikson acknowledged that she was not authorized to use the pepper spray and that she deployed it several times for an unlawful purpose. She also admitted failing to care for the resident despite her professional responsibility to do so.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the conduct deeply troubling, saying caregivers who abuse or neglect vulnerable elderly residents must be held accountable.
The Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit prosecuted the case. Deputy Attorney General Camille McKnight is handling the prosecution, and Detective Yvette Vasquez conducted the investigation.
Suspected Medicaid fraud or elder abuse can be reported by calling 609-292-1272 or emailing NJMFCU@njdcj.org.
