Sharlene Pflugrad, 65, pleaded no contest to child neglect after surveillance showed she silenced an oxygen alarm roughly 100 times while caring overnight for a medically fragile 3-year-old in Cape Coral. The child’s oxygen levels repeatedly dropped into the low 80s; the mother testified the nurse sent one text with readings of 81% and 79% instead of following protocol to administer oxygen and alert the parents or emergency services. Pflugrad told the court she "did as I was told" and said she was following supervisor guidance; her attorney called the incident a training failure. Judge Bruce Kyle sentenced her to 30 months in prison, 30 months probation, forfeiture of her nursing license and 100 hours of community service.
Nurse Sentenced After Silencing Oxygen Alarm for Medically Fragile Toddler; Says "I Did As I Was Told"
Sharlene Pflugrad appears in court on Sept. 22, 2026. (Court TV)
FORT MYERS, Fla. — A licensed practical nurse was sentenced to prison after surveillance showed she repeatedly silenced a home oxygen alarm while caring overnight for a medically complex 3-year-old, a case that raised questions about training, supervision and accountability in home health care.
Case Details
Sharlene Pflugrad, 65, pleaded no contest to one count of child neglect for an incident at a Cape Coral residence in 2025 and appeared in Lee County court on Sept. 22, 2026 for sentencing. Pflugrad had been employed by a nursing agency to care overnight (10 p.m. to 8:15 a.m.) for a boy born at 24 weeks who was experiencing a respiratory illness.
Evidence Presented
Prosecutors introduced surveillance video that showed Pflugrad pressing the oxygen alarm's silence control roughly 100 times during the shift. The alarm was set to alert caregivers when the child’s oxygen saturation fell into a dangerous range; investigators said the child’s readings repeatedly dropped into the low 80s. The child’s mother testified she found a single text from Pflugrad containing photos showing oxygen readings of 81% and 79%.
Alleged Protocol Violations
The mother testified that agency protocol required the on-duty nurse to administer supplemental oxygen when readings were low, rouse the parents, notify the nursing agency and call 911 if necessary. According to the mother, Pflugrad did not perform those actions and only sent the one message.
"You told me that it had been going on all night. The lack of recognition was outstanding," the mother told the court. She said her son now has permanent lung scarring, requires daily oxygen and must receive three breathing treatments each day.
Defendant's Statement and Defense
Pflugrad told the court she was sorry the family suffered and said, "I'm sorry I didn't go and wake up the mom and let her know what was happening." She also maintained she followed instructions from a supervisor, asserting: "I did as I was told," and defended silencing the alarm as an accepted practice when the reading briefly dipped and then returned to normal.
Defense counsel characterized the matter as a "lack of training" issue and asked the judge to impose probation or house arrest instead of incarceration.
Sentence and Court Ruling
After a short recess, Judge Bruce Kyle said the conduct exceeded negligence and imposed a custodial sentence. Pflugrad was sentenced to 30 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections, followed by 30 months of probation. The court also ordered forfeiture of her nursing license and 100 hours of community service.
Wider Implications
The case underscores tensions between caregiver training, agency oversight and criminal accountability when vulnerable patients are cared for at home. It has prompted debate about how home health agencies monitor staff, interpret alarm protocols and protect medically fragile patients.
Reporting by Court TV.
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