NORWICH – The Chenango County Sheriff and the Department of Social Services followed through on a promise to have an incarcerated 85-year-old nursing home resident transferred from the county jail to a nursing home by the end of the week.

Chenango County Sheriff Thomas Loughren thanked the Social Services’ adult protective service division and pointed the finger at the nursing home which requested that the resident be arrested.

Chase Memorial Nursing Home staff contacted police and filed a complaint Oct. 3 against a resident at the facility, Leonard Bentley, who was then incarcerated on $1,000 bail for the charge of public lewdness.

Bentley was moved by the Department of Social Services Tuesday evening to a temporary residence at a local nursing home until a final residence for him can be found.

“He was evaluated at the jail and it was determined that he needed a higher level of care than could be offered there, so temporary measures were worked out with the family in finding a nursing home,” said DSS Commissioner Betty Osborne, who explained the home would provide supervised care for Bentley.

“This is one example of the Chenango County Jail being taken advantage of,” said the Sheriff.