A Sayre, Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to state prison following a disturbing case of criminal negligence and assault involving his partially paralyzed girlfriend and vulnerable residents at a local care facility.
Joseph Hall, 39, was convicted on multiple charges, including neglect of a care-dependent person, criminal trespassing, and simple assault.
He was handed a sentence last month ranging from one year and five months to six years in a state correctional institution, in addition to court fines and costs.
The case originated in January, when authorities arrested Hall after he failed to provide basic medical care to his live-in girlfriend, who is paralyzed from the waist down.
According to investigators and reports from NorthcentralPA.com, Hall had agreed to administer in-home healthcare but instead allowed the woman to suffer from worsening wounds, including one that had become infected with fecal matter and was so severe that her tailbone was exposed.
Police, already familiar with Hall due to past disturbances, linked him to a separate incident at Page Manor, a residential facility for seniors and people with disabilities in Athens, Pennsylvania. In that case, Hall reportedly forced his way into the building, claiming to be a police officer searching for his wife.
During the intrusion, he shoved multiple residents, some of whom told police that Hall had previously assaulted people at the facility while bizarrely stating he was “looking for kids.” These aggressive actions resulted in additional charges of criminal trespassing and assault.
Hall’s criminal record extends beyond these recent incidents. Court documents reveal a pattern of prior offenses, including burglary, access device fraud, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief, all serious offenses often associated with repeat offenders and a high risk to public safety.
This case highlights the urgent need for oversight in home healthcare services and raises serious concerns about the protection of vulnerable adults, especially those with disabilities.
It also sheds light on the dangers of police impersonation and unauthorized entry into secure facilities, both of which are growing concerns in personal injury law and nursing home liability cases.
As public awareness grows around these issues, law enforcement and healthcare regulation authorities emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious behavior, especially in environments housing elderly or disabled individuals.
