Shelbyville Caregiver Charged with Abuse, Neglect of Elderly Adults

BEDFORD COUNTY, TN – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division, along with other agencies, has resulted in the arrest of a Shelbyville man, charged with the abuse and neglect of elderly patients.

In January, at the referral of Adult Protective Services, agents joined that agency and the Department of Health, in investigating a complaint that residents at an assisted living facility in Bedford County were being abused and/ or neglected. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that identified Cody Prestwood, a licensed practical nurse at the facility, as the individual responsible for the abuse and neglect of the residents. The investigation also revealed that from December 2021 through August 2022, Prestwood failed on multiple occasions to document those incidents and failed to seek proper treatment for the individuals involved. 

On November 9th, Cody Andrew Prestwood was arrested by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office. The 34-year-old is charged with two counts of Aggravated Abuse of an Elderly Adult, two counts of Neglect of an Elderly Adult, and one count of Abuse of an Elderly Adult. Prestwood was booked into the Bedford County Jail on November 9th under a $250,000 bond.

MORE DETAILS - According to the Bedford County Courts, Prestwood bonded out of jail on November 10th and is scheduled to appear in court on December 14th at 9AM to face two charges: 

1. TCA 39-15-511  ABUSE RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY (Alleged Violation Date: 12/24/21)
2. TCA 39-15-507  CAREGIVER NEGLECT VULNERABLE ADULT (Alleged Violation Date: 12/24/21)
3. TCA 39-15-510  ABUSE OF VULNERABLE ADULT (Alleged Violation Date: 08/18/22)
4. TCA 39-15-507  CAREGIVER NEGLECT VULNERABLE ADULT (Alleged Violation Date: 08/20/22)
5. TCA 39-15-511  ABUSE RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY (Alleged Violation Date: 08/20/22)

Prestwood will be heard before Judge Charles Rich in Shelbyville. He will be represented by attorney Kelly Wilson, according to the Bedford County Courts on November 17, 2022.

Source: TN Bureau of Investigation