A 44-year-old male nursing assistant has been arrested and charged on suspicion of sexual battery on a patient in Los Angeles County. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the incident allegedly occurred at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills. Officials say the man assaulted the female patient in her hospital bed. Investigators are conducting several interviews to determine if there are other potential victims as well. He faces two counts of sexual battery for the incident and could face more charges if additional patients step forward.
Under California Penal Code 243.4 (b): “Any person who touches an intimate part of another person who is institutionalized for medical treatment and who is seriously disabled or medically incapacitated, if the touching is against the will of the person touched, and if the touching is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery.”
Penalties for sexual battery in California involving a patient include a county jail sentence for one year and a fine of $2,000 or imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years and a fine of $10,000. Additionally, the allegations alone can result in serious professional and social consequences.
An experienced criminal defense attorney will review the circumstances of the case to determine the best course of action for the defendant. These types of cases are extremely sensitive and the consequences are severe.
The knowledgeable Mission Hills sex crime defense lawyers at Sitkoff & Hanrahan aggressively fight for the best interests of our clients. We provide free and confidential consultations at (866) 430-8383 to anyone facing sex crime charges in Los Angeles County.