Brattleboro woman faces charges of patient abuse and practicing nursing without a license

Tyler has been charged with three misdemeanors, which include two counts of unauthorized nursing assistant practice and one count related to the abuse of a vulnerable adult.

A 48-year-old woman from Brattleboro is under legal scrutiny after being accused of slapping a resident at a long-term care facility in Vernon while having worked unlawfully as a nursing assistant for over a year. Jennifer Tyler entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday during her appearance in Windham County Superior Court.

Tyler has been charged with three misdemeanors, which include two counts of unauthorized nursing assistant practice and one count related to the abuse of a vulnerable adult. After her arraignment, Judge Michael Kainen set her release conditions.

The charges against her are a result of an inquiry conducted by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). This investigation stemmed from a complaint lodged on February 27, 2026, alleging that Tyler struck a resident while employed at Vernon Green Homes. A subsequent report from the nursing facility's director on March 4, 2026, echoed the same allegations.

Earlier in the year, OPR Detective Ryan Prince noted in an affidavit that Tyler's provisional nursing assistant license had been revoked several months prior. Communication from OPR dated May 28, 2025, indicated that her license revocation was due to undisclosed felony and misdemeanor convictions, which included incidents of theft and providing alcohol to minors.

Despite the suspension of her provisional license scheduled to expire on July 1, 2025, Tyler continued to work at the facility. Records indicate that she logged approximately 1,294.66 hours of work between June 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026, which translates to an estimated 1,254.66 hours of unlicensed practice.

A specific incident on February 22, 2026, raised concerns about Tyler's treatment of a senior male resident suffering from dementia and confusion. According to statements from staff, the resident had been agitated and attempting to enter another resident's room when Tyler allegedly engaged in a physical confrontation. Witnesses reported that Tyler slapped the resident after he kicked her, resulting in a visible mark on his face.

In her account to investigators on March 24, 2026, Tyler admitted to striking the resident once, labeling it a hard slap. She recounted the resident's aggressive behavior, stating that his actions prompted her reaction and acknowledged she had the option to remove herself from the situation.

During the investigation, Tyler was described as cooperative, and a criminal citation has been issued, directing her to return to court on May 26, 2026. The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that all individuals charged are deemed innocent until proven guilty.