A Middletown woman accused of treating patients as an unlicensed advanced dental assistant for three Bucks County dentists could face additional charges for violating her bail conditions.
At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office revealed that Rose Calese Horne might have been working for a fourth dentist.
When she was arrested in April, Calese Horne, 43, told authorities she was not working and her bail condition included barring her from working in a dental office until her case was finished.
Fake dental assistant:Middletown woman worked as an advanced dental assistant in Bucks County without license: AG
AG prosecutor Thomas Prisco, though, said the office is investigating tips that Calese Horne was working for a Philadelphia dentist, which could result in additional charges.
Calese Horne will face trial in Bucks County after she was held on all charges including five counts of prohibited use of radiation source, which are second-degree felonies.
The AG’s office opened an investigation into Calese Horne in November after receiving a tip that she was performing duties of an advanced dental assistant, or what is known as an EFDA (expanded function dental assistant), including x-rays, without the required licensing and certifications.
Authorities allege Calese Horne briefly worked for three dental practices in Bensalem, Middletown and Bristol Township in 2022 and last year.
At the hearing, two Bucks County dentists and an office manager who hired Calese Horne testified that she represented herself as certified to perform X-rays as an EFDA, a position that involves additional education to perform more complex tasks.
Calese Horne worked no more than 30 days for each dental office before she was terminated, authorities said.
Dr. Ryan Kaye testified that he hired Calese Horne for a 30-day trial and paid her the higher hourly rate based on her resume, which indicated she was properly licensed.
He testified her resume noted she had several years experience as a dental assistant and held the proper licenses, but that he did not verify the information.
Similarly, Dr. Jayashree Thorat testified that Calese Horne texted her an alleged copy of her X-ray certificate, but not her expanded function dental assistant certification, though she repeatedly asked for it.
Throat testified that she did not verify either certification with state or national databases at the time because she was unaware they existed.
Joye Cora testified Calese Horne was terminated from the Bristol Township dental office where she is an office manager after four days when she couldn’t produce copies of her professional certificates and had scheduling problems.
Special Agent Michael McNicholas testified neither the Pennsylvania Board of Dentistry nor the Dental Assisting National Board have records showing that Calese Horne is a licensed EFDA or certified to use dental X-ray equipment, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Calese Horne is currently incarcerated in Philadelphia on a detainer. Her bail in Bucks County was set at $50,000.
Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
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