BELLEFONTE -- The second former State College Manor Nursing Home nurse's aide to stand trial on abuse charges was convicted Friday on seven counts of simple assault and four counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Charles R. Medzie, 51, was acquitted of two aggravated assault and two simple assault charges in the Centre County Courthouse.

Walking grimly from the courtroom, Medzie refused to comment on the verdict, which was returned after three-and-a-half hours of deliberation.

Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar said Medzie can receive a sentence ranging from probation, which he said is unlikely, to 22 years in prison.

Although Medzie was acquitted on the aggravated assault charges -- which carry a mandatory two-year sentence on each count -- Gricar said he was very satisfied with the outcome of the trial.

Charges stem from last summer's reports of abuse at the nursing home, 450 Waupelani Drive. An investigation by State College Bureau of Police Services resulted in several arrests of employees and the top two administrators of the now-closed facility.

Last year, former nurse's aide Timothy S. Berrena was convicted on multiple simple assault and reckless endangerment charges. Until sentencing, both Berrena and Medzie are released on bail, a Centre County Prison spokesman said.

In Thursday's testimony, witnesses for the prosecution described Medzie as someone who appeared to be a good worker but capable of treating patients cruelly.

During testimony, witnesses said Medzie fed a patient fecal matter on two occasions and repeatedly slapped the ears of another patient. Other reported incidents included slapping at patients with a towel and verbal abuse.

In his closing argument, Defense Attorney Chris Pentz tried to discredit the prosecution's witnesses by pointing out inconsistencies in their testimony.

Referring to former nurse's aide Susan Woods, who was visibly upset on the witness stand, Pentz said, "She indicated she was highly traumatized . . . why didn't she remember any dates" of the abuses.

But Gricar, in his closing argument, said Woods' testimony was not an act.

"There can't be any doubt that she saw what she saw," he said. "If that's an act, the lady deserves an Academy Award."

Pentz attempted to convince the jury that three of the four witnesses against Medzie were trying to protect themselves against possible allegations as the nursing home's story of abuse and neglect continues to unfold.

The Clearfield County attorney said the witnesses resented Medzie for various reasons and were retaliating against him.

Pentz also pointed out discrepancies in identifying the month the abuses were reported. He also noted that one of the prosecution's witnesses, Juana Richards, was fired for suspected verbal abuse.

"It was a race to see who could first report abuse to save themselves," he said, accusing the prosecution of trying to turn Medzie into a "Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde" character.

Addressing the witnesses testifying on Medzie's behalf, which included two relatives of the reported victims, Gricar said it is a natural tendency for people to deny the existence of a wrong rather than believe someone could perpetrate such acts. He also said Medzie did not abuse the patients every day and that many of the victims had memory problems so they did not report the abuse to their families.

A daughter of one of the victims testified that Medzie was "exceptionally good to my father." Both relatives said they would have known if the patients were abused.

Pentz said he had not discussed a possible appeal with Medzie.

Tom Medzie, the defendant's son, said his father enjoys helping people and is incapable of perpetrating such abuse.

"I know my father," he said, adding that the witnesses "were getting back at him."