PORT CHARLOTTE — A nurse at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home is accused of punching an 85-year-old resident with Alzheimer’s disease in the head, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff’s report.

On July 27, an employee reported seeing Liliane Stephen Victor, 43, of the 22000 block of Oceanside Avenue, Port Charlotte, grab the man in a bear hug while trying to get him to sit down at a table to eat, a report stated. When the man wouldn’t sit, Victor reportedly punched him in the back of the head on the right side.

Victor was placed on administrative leave while the nursing home investigated the incident. Victor, who denied hitting the man, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of battery on a person 65 years old or older. She was held at the Charlotte County Jail without bond.

Man charged with stealing, selling jewelry

PUNTA GORDA — Authorities arrested a man on Monday for selling jewelry he allegedly stole from a home in July, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff’s report.

Justin Andrew Derose, 27, of the 9000 block of Acorn Boulevard, Punta Gorda, was charged with grand theft, two counts of false ownership to a pawnbroker and 12 counts of dealing in stolen property, in connection with the incident.

According to the report, Derose was a guest at a home on the 2100 block of Mark Avenue in July, when he allegedly stole jewelry valued at $1,165. When the homeowner contacted authorities, she was informed by the Punta Gorda Police Department that Derose already was under investigation for previous pawn transactions.

Sheriff’s detectives also were investigating Derose at the time, after he allegedly had sold stolen jewelry to two gold-buying stores — one on Tamiami Trail, and the other in the Port Charlotte Town Center mall.

Derose turned himself in early Monday morning and informed detectives he had used the money he received from the gold-buying stores to pay for drugs, according to the report.

Derose was arrested and transported to the Charlotte County Jail, where he remains without bond.

Man charged
with stealing stepmom’s rings

PORT CHARLOTTE — A local man was arrested Tuesday for stealing his stepmother’s jewelry and pawning it at several local pawn shops, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff’s report.

Bradley Michael Singleton, 28, of the 2300 block of Alvet Street, was charged with grand theft, dealing in stolen property and false verification of ownership to a second-hand dealer, in connection with the incident.

According to the report, Singleton was staying at his stepmother’s home and remodeling her bathroom when he stole several of her rings. Authorities found the rings at Precise Diamonds on the 18000 block of Veterans Boulevard, and the shop’s owner provided transaction forms, Singleton’s driver’s license and thumbprints from the receipts.

Singleton was located at the Charlotte County Justice Center Tuesday morning and placed under arrest. He remains at the Charlotte County Jail on $17,000 bond.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests:

• Melanie Leah Moree, 34, 2100 block of Broom Court, Port Charlotte. Charges: knowingly driving with a suspended license and violation of probation (original charges: two counts of trafficking in stolen property, and grand theft). Bond: none.

• Jeffrey Edward Lehman, 34, 6100 block of Gillot Blvd., Port Charlotte. Charges: operating a motorcycle without a valid license and violation of probation (original charges: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia). Bond: none.

• Machelle Lynn Davey, 49, 3300 block of Pinetree St., Port Charlotte. Charge: DUI. Bond: $750.

• Tiffany Elaine Carter, 23, Kenly St., Port Charlotte. Charge: battery. Bond: $1,000.

• Christopher Matthew Willis, 42, 3400 block of Maple Terrace, Port Charlotte. Charge: violation of a county ordinance. He was released with credit for time served.

• Tyler Bauer Thomson III, 29, 600 block of Yale St., Englewood. Charges: failure to appear, possession of a new drug without a prescription, violation of pretrial release conditions and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Bond: none.

• Sean Michael Frazee, 24, of Cape Coral. Charges: possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic equipment. Bond: $2,000.

• Melvin Vigail Lopez-Lopez, 25, of Naples. Charge: driving with a suspended license for more than six months. He was released on probation.

— Compiled by Drew Winchester