Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Antiniece Michelle Middleton, 31 years old, who previously resided in the 1400 block of Lois Lane in Norfolk, Virginia, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Frederick B. Lowe for Abusing an Incapacitated Adult Causing Injury. Judge Lowe sentenced Middleton to five (5) years all suspended except six (6) months to serve.
Antiniece Middleton was found guilty by Judge Lowe after a trial on July 2, 2012. The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that in November 2011, Antiniece Middleton was employed as a live-in caregiver for a 27-year-old severely disabled autistic woman. On November 26, 2011, Middleton bathed the woman in scalding bath water, causing the woman to sustain second-degree burns on her buttocks and thighs. Middleton brought the victim to the hospital and told doctors that the victim’s burns happened when the victim sat in cleaning chemicals on the toilet at McDonald’s. She continued this lie during interviews with medical staff, social services, investigators, and the victim’s family. The victim remained hospitalized in the burn unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for four days. Eventually, Middleton admitted to police that the burns resulted from hot bath water and that she was not paying attention to the victim.
Middleton has a prior conviction for Failure to Return Rental Property.
The case was prosecuted by Associate Commonwealth’s Attorney Julie L. Fink. Please contact Macie Pridgen if additional information is desired.