JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hospitals are known for saving lives and improving overall health. However, for one woman, the hospital was a source to steal robotic equipment.
Angela Kearse, 58, who admitted to stealing more than $60,000 worth of medical equipment from St. Vincent’s Hospital, was sentenced to 36 months (three years) in prison with a 10-year probation and $65,000 resitiution.
She faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
In court, the mother of two and grandmother of five granddaughters addressed the judge in her final plea before the sentencing.
She described herself as someone who has worked in healthcare for decades, pointing to the other character letters that were read in court and her longtime community involvement.
She said she also apologized to hospital leadership, asking for their forgiveness.
“They was very shocked that it was me,” Kearse said to the judge. “That had done anything out of the ordinary because I’m not the type of person that stays in the office or carry on any kind of wrongness that goes on in the hospital.”
When she was questioned about her actions, she claimed she was “forced” or pressured by someone else involved, saying that she feared harm if she did not follow suit.
She ended her plea expressing remorse for her actions and asking for leniency so she could “get back on track.”
According to court documents, Kearse worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital but stole expensive medical robot arms.
According to an arrest and booking report, Kearse worked as a surgical assistant at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
On Jan. 29, she entered a guilty plea for thefts that occurred in 2024.
In 2024, hospital staff noticed that surgical robotic arms had been missing for months from the Southside location.
A photo taken on Dec. 24 to document inventory looked very different just two days later on Dec. 26, showing over half of the property missing.
Kearse worked at the Riverside location but used her badge to access the Southside location on weekends and holidays when fewer people were present.
Security reviewed surveillance footage and badge entrance logs.
They found Kearse leaving on Dec. 25 around 3 a.m., carrying duffel bags and cardboard boxes filled with the missing medical robot arms valued at over $60,000.
Police say she admitted to taking the items and had an accomplice. There is no public record that the other person was arrested.
News4JAX reached out to St. Vincent’s Hospital for comment, and received the following response.
Immediately upon discovery of the theft, we separated the individual from our health system.
We are cooperating fully with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Any additional questions should be directed to their department.
Spokesperson for St. Vincent's Hospital