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2 former Westmoreland Hospital nurses accused of taking inappropriate photos of patients

Two former nurses at Westmoreland Hospital are facing multiple criminal charges after police say they took photos of nude and partially dressed patients.

Peter Castellano, 36, of Pittsburgh, is facing four felony counts each of criminal use of a communication facility and disclosing intercepted communications, seven misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy, and one misdemeanor count each of harassment and selling obscene materials.

Melissa Tompkins, 36, of Whitehall, is facing two felony counts each of criminal use of a communication facility and disclosing intercepted communications, two misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy, and a misdemeanor count of harassment.

Police were notified of allegations against the two by other staff members, according to a news release from the Greensburg police.

“Upon investigating, detectives learned the improper conduct included video and audio recordings, in addition to still images of elderly patients with varying degrees of nudity,” the news release reads.

Independence Health System, which owns Westmoreland Hospital as well as Butler Memorial Hospital, fired Castellano and Tompkins after an investigation, police said.

No preliminary hearing date has been set for the cases.

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