A former nurse’s aide at the center of abuse accusations at Jacksonville’s Golden Moments Senior Care Center won’t be facing charges any longer. 

Illinois Department of Public Health Spokeswoman Melanie Arnold says the state has dropped charges levied against former Golden Moments nurse’s aide Jessie Ross due to lack of evidence. The 23-year-old Jacksonville woman was accused of slapping a female resident, threatening to cut a patient’s throat and taking food away from the resident.

Arnold says accusations as substantial as those needed witnesses to relay the alleged abuse to investigators, and the Golden Moments residents who were identified as witnesses didn’t have the mental capacity to testify.

Ross was fired following the subsequent investigation. Arnold says Ross is again eligible to register with the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry without an investigation notation added to her listing.

Golden Moments was fined $20,000 by the IDPH after a June 2009 investigation yielded Ross’ alleged abuse. That fine was reduced to $6,500.

The IDPH last month imposed a $50,000 fine for five separate deficiencies at Golden Moments in connection with the October 3rd death of 74-year-old resident Adam Waeltz, who choked on food while eating in the facility’s dining hall. Each of the five alleged violations carries a $10,000 penalty.

Arnold says it’s possible that $50,000 fine could be reduced as well. The facility has a status hearing on the matter set for March 25th.

Golden Moments Administrator Christopher Robb didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.