FARMINGTON -- The state office that licenses dozens of professional occupations carefully reviews all documents submitted by applicants who also have to undergo a criminal background check, a spokesman for the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation said Tuesday.

But the Industry man who worked for nearly a year as a physical therapist at a Farmington nursing home allegedly had altered his license as a physical therapist assistant.

Brent A. Dellarma, 44, who lives at 293 West Mills Road, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury last week on charges of aggravated forgery and two counts of theft by deception, all felonies; and for the unlicensed practice of physical therapy, a misdemeanor.

According to the department, which licenses more than 100,000 people in Maine in about 40 professional occupations, Dellarma had a legitimate license as an assistant physical therapist.

When he received his license in 1995, he presented a transcript to the state indicating he had attended the school now known as Kennebec Valley Community College and had completed the assistant's program, said Douglas Dunbar, assistant to the commissioner at the agency.

"There are no records of Mr. Dellarma ever applying for a physical therapist license and no indication that he ever received a credential from the Department other than his long-standing PTA (physical therapist assistant)," Dunbar said.

"Staff members in the Office of Licensing and Registration carefully review all documents submitted by applicants," he said. "They take action when any indication of problems is detected."

What people do with their license after they receive it is out of the control of the state, he said.

The department provides an online search system to check on the status of any licensed professional. It can be found at http://www.maine.gov/pfr. On the tool box on the right side of the page, users may click on the link "Looking for a licensed professional."

Dunbar said he is not aware of anyone in recent memory practicing as a physical therapist with a license that was fraudulently obtained. Even with the advent of sophisticated technology and printers, there have been no reports of people doctoring a license or presenting a phony license to an employer in Maine.

State Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, a practicing attorney, former district attorney for Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties , said she has not encountered a case of license fraud.

"The indictment sends a strong message to anyone else who might be tempted to fake their credentials, that they will be found out and will be prosecuted," she said.

In addition to the criminal charges Dellarma is facing, Dunbar said the Board of Examiners in Physical Therapy will review the case and hold a hearing on whether Dellarma can continue to practice.

He said the application process for a license works well. Since about 2000, applicants for licensure have been required to submit to a criminal background check through the State Bureau of Identification. The results are available to the public and can be viewed at http://maine.gov/dps/Sbi.

Dellarma's indictments on the theft charges refer to the wages paid to him by Genesis Rehabilitation Services, which owns Sandy River Health Care Center and exceeded $1,000, and an alleged scheme to defraud MaineCare and Medicare program for over $10,000. These are medical programs for the poor and the elderly.

Genesis, in a written statement, said Dellarma was employed as a physical therapy assistant and later as a licensed physical therapist. According to spokeswoman Jeanne Moore, when management suspected a discrepancy, Dellarma was immediately suspended and later terminated. The agency immediately contacted the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, local authorities and the Attorney General's office, she said in a written statement.

"We take issues like this very seriously and are cooperating fully with the authorities as they handle this situation," the statement reads. "This is an isolated incident and is not a reflection of the overall quality of care provided to our patients every day. We remain committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment for the patients in our care."

The case is being investigated by the Health Care Crimes Unit in the Maine Attorney General's Office.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com