May 24, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

A Brownsville woman charged with not carrying workers’ compensation insurance on those employed at her Tri-County Home Health Care business agreed to plead guilty in exchange for 10 years of probation. Frances Wheeler, whose business address is listed at 901 Lewis St. in Brownsville, will also have to perform 2,000 hours of community service during her probation.

“Two thousand hours? I have trouble getting people to do 50 (hours),” said Fayette County Judge John F. Wagner Jr.

Nonetheless, Wheeler agreed to the deal and will enter her plea next Wednesday.

Filed by Sharon Zanotto, manager of the compliance section of the Department of Labor and Industry’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the complaint indicates that Wheeler ran her business without the proper insurance over different periods.

The complaint alleges the insurance, required under law, was lacking between Jan. 1, 1997, and May 4, 1997; between Oct. 6, 1997, and May 5, 1999; and between Oct. 1, 1999, and Oct. 23, 2000.

Each day’s violation, according to the complaint, is a separate offense. As a result, Wheeler was charged with 124 misdemeanor and 599 felony counts.

Zanotto filed the complaint against Wheeler on Oct. 29, 2001. Court records did not indicate how many people Wheeler employed during the time periods she allegedly went without insurance.

Although District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said she was unsure of the exact amount of restitution that will have to be paid.