Nursing home owner who left 800 people in warehouse during Hurricane Ida avoids jail time

Bob Dean Jr gets probation after pleading no contest to counts of cruelty to infirmed people and healthcare fraud

A Louisiana nursing home magnate who left 800 elderly residents to endure a potent hurricane inside a fetid warehouse has avoided jail time after choosing not to dispute the cruelty charges facing him.

Bob Dean Jr on Monday received three years of probation - along with about $2m in penalties, court costs and restitution - after pleading no contest to eight counts of cruelty to infirmed people, five of healthcare fraud and two of obstruction of justice.