Mercer County Man Investigated in Sexual Assault Case Involving Incapacitated Woman, Deputies Say

by Lootpress News Staff 

MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mercer County man is facing felony charges after deputies say an investigation and forensic testing linked him to a reported sexual assault involving a woman with documented intellectual disabilities.

According to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, deputies first responded to a home on Trove Place in Princeton on June 20, 2025, for an indecent exposure complaint after 911 callers reported a man and woman engaged in sexual activity in a front yard.

Deputies said they arrived to find the pair — identified as Charles Keffer and Alexis Anderson — together near a trailer. A neighbor later provided deputies with brief video clips that appeared to show sexual activity taking place in the yard, investigators said. 

During the response, Anderson’s mother arrived and informed deputies that she is Anderson’s legal guardian and that Anderson has autism and an intellectual disability, supported by court documentation, according to the report. Anderson was transported to the hospital, where a sexual assault examination was performed.

Detectives later reviewed forensic lab results from the evidence kit, which indicated the presence of male DNA on multiple samples collected from Anderson. A court-authorized DNA swab was later obtained from Keffer, and state police lab analysts determined that DNA from several swabs was consistent with Keffer’s profile, investigators said.

Because of Anderson’s documented incapacity and longstanding acquaintance with Keffer, detectives wrote that they believe he was aware of her limitations at the time of the alleged conduct.

A forensic interview with Anderson was also conducted in October 2025 due to her cognitive condition. Investigators said Anderson disclosed that she was sexually assaulted and identified Keffer as the person involved.

Following the lab findings and interview, detectives requested warrants charging Charles Leslie Keffer with sexual abuse in the second degree and sexual assault in the third degree.

The case remains under investigation, and Keffer will face the charges through the court system.

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Mercer County Man Investigated in Sexual Assault Case Involving Incapacitated Woman, Deputies Say 

California Attorney General Announces Guilty Plea of Vista Caretaker for Committing Multiple Acts of Financial and Sexual Elder Abuse in San Diego County

December 13, 2021 - OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the guilty plea of Brandon Benavente, a caretaker for elderly and dependent persons in San Diego County. While working as a caretaker, Benavente sexually assaulted three elderly dependents, and stole personal property including money, jewelry, and a handgun. Today in the San Diego County Superior Court, Benavente pled guilty to 11 felonies relating to sexual assault, financial and elder abuse, as well as theft. Additionally, Benavente’s girlfriend and co-defendant Odaliz Mendez also pled guilty to multiple felonies relating to her involvement in the theft scheme. Benavente and Mendez’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2022.  The parties have agreed to request that the court enter a sentence in excess of 14 years, which would be one of the longest elder abuse sentences imposed in a case brought by the California Department of Justice. In addition, the defendants will also be ordered to pay restitution to their victims.

“Caretakers have the responsibility of ensuring that their clients are being treated with dignity, respect, and care. Brandon Benavente made a choice to use his role as a caretaker to take advantage of those who depended on him for care. The countless acts of elder abuse that have been committed in this case are nothing short of despicable,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Any and all forms of abuse against our elders will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable. In today’s guilty plea, I want to thank our law enforcement partners for helping ensure the health and well-being of Californians residing in elder care facilities.” 

In May 2020, Benavente was caught on video surveillance entering the room of a resident and removing cash from the resident’s wallet, prompting an investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. In June 2020, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office asked the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) to join their investigation against Benavante. The joint investigation found that between December 2019 and December 2020 Benavente committed multiple acts of burglary, theft, fraud, identity theft, and sexual abuse against a resident residing at Vista Village Senior Living and other victims throughout San Diego County. The two defendants stole jewelry, a handgun, and thousands of dollars from their victims. 

The criminal investigation into Benavente and Mendez was conducted by the Attorney General’s DMFEA in collaboration with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Oceanside Police Department, San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and Escondido Police Department. DMFEA investigates and prosecutes those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults across the state. DMFEA also works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those who perpetrate fraud on the Medi-Cal program. DMFEA regularly works with whistleblowers, the California Department of Health Care Services, and local law enforcement agencies in its investigations and prosecutions.

A copy of the complaint is available here.

DMFEA receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $41,264,032 for federal fiscal year 2020-2021. The remaining 25%, totaling $13,754,675 for fiscal year 2020-2021, is funded by the State of California. The federal fiscal year is defined as October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.
Source: CA. DOJ

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California Attorney General Announces Guilty Plea of Vista Caretaker for Committing Multiple Acts of Financial and Sexual Elder Abuse in San Diego County

Caregiver arrested over sexual assault, death of 80-year-old woman in nursing home

YAMANSHI - Police in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, have arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of sexually assaulting an 80-year-old woman at the nursing home where he works as a caregiver.

The woman, Keiko Higuchi, died of injuries believed to have been inflicted on her during the assault which occurred in the bathroom of her room at the Wataboshi nursing home between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Aug 5, Kyodo News reported. Higuchi shared a room with her husband, who is in his 70s. He was asleep when the incident occurred, police said.

According to police, the suspect, Kazuki Tanzaki, is accused of taking Higuchi, who suffered from dementia and had difficulty walking, into the bathroom where he choked her and then sexually assaulted her. Higuchi was unresponsive the next morning and Tanzaki asked the nursing home director to call 119. Higuchi was taken to hospital where she was declared dead. An autopsy revealed asphyxiation as the cause of death. She also suffered a broken bone in her throat.

Tanzaki was the only caregiver on duty that night, police said. Police said he has admitted to assaulting the woman, but has denied intent to kill. He was quoted by police as saying that recently he had become stressed out over his caregiving duties and that it is was troublesome getting the Higuchis to do anything without an argument.

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Caregiver arrested over sexual assault, death of 80-year-old woman in nursing home

More Than Half of American Adults with Multiple Sclerosis Report Mistreatment by Caregivers

by Aislinn Antrim

 

A new study has found that nearly half of people with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) have been emotionally abused by a caregiver, whereas others reported financial exploitation, neglect, physical assault, or sexual assault.

According to a press release, 4 in 10 reported emotional abuse, 1 in 4 reported financial exploitation, 1 in 6 reported neglect, 1 in 9 said they have been battered, and 1 in 12 said they have been sexually assaulted by a caregiver.

“We knew we would find some level of abuse and neglect, but we were surprised by how prevalent it is,” said study leader Elizabeth Morrison-Banks, MD, MS Ed, in a press release. “The findings of this study represent a collective cry for help from so many families affected by multiple sclerosis across the United States.”

MS is an autoimmune disease affecting more than 2.3 million people worldwide. As a degenerative condition, it can periodically shutter communication between the brain and other parts of the body, resulting in symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, as well as blindness and paralysis. Morrison-Banks said some patients can live with MS for many years with milder symptoms and they may never need a caregiver; however, many patients may need more help.

“Others are less fortunate and develop neurological disability that can make them vulnerable to abuse and neglect if they are unable to move around independently, take care of their own finances, or get away from the situation when family conflict escalates,” Morrison-Banks explained. “These problems are compounded if the person with MS and family lack financial resources.”

According to the press release, the research paper is the first published survey documenting the nature and extent of caregiver mistreatment for adults with MS in the United States. The preliminary study found that nearly 55% of respondents disclosed undergoing some form of mistreatment since they started receiving care from a family member or friend.

Morrison-Banks said that paid caregivers may not be an option for many patients, so they may rely on family members or friends who are also balancing work, childcare, or health concerns of their own. These challenges can increase the risk of mistreatment, although Morrison-Banks emphasized that the majority of family caregivers do not mistreat those they care for.

The investigators said they do not fully understand all of the risk factors for mistreatment, although the survey found that family members who had to be the primary caregiver every day were at higher risk of mistreating the person with MS. Other risk factors included the person with MS having higher levels of cognitive impairment or fatigue, the caregiver having a mental health diagnosis, alcohol use by either the caregiver or the person with MS, and lower levels of social support within the family.

The press release said they were surprised to find no published studies documenting how many people with MS have experienced mistreatment. Community service organizations, such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, and local organizations, also provide support and services for families in need.

“Our study is a good reminder for all that mistreatment is occurring out there for people with MS and other disabling conditions,” Morrison-Banks concluded. “Health care professionals should maintain a high index of suspicion. We can’t assume that all people with advanced MS are living in safe situations, even if they don’t bring up their concerns on their own.”

REFERENCE
More than half of American adults with advanced multiple sclerosis report mistreatment by caregivers [news release]. UC Riverside; October 27, 2020. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2020/10/27/more-half-american-adults-advanced-multiple-sclerosis-report-mistreatment. Accessed February 8, 2021.

 

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More Than Half of American Adults with Multiple Sclerosis Report Mistreatment by Caregivers

Two Sexual Assault Investigations At Different El Cajon Nursing Homes Turned Over To DA’s Office

By Amita Sharma

Photo by Roland Lizarondo

Above: Pictured above is Avocado Post Acute in El Cajon, May 29, 2020.

El Cajon police have referred an investigation into accusations that a caregiver sexually assaulted two seniors at separate nursing homes to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office for possible prosecution.

Police sent their findings to prosecutors following an investigative report by KPBS last week and more than one year after the alleged assaults took place.

“Sometimes, it’s better to hang on to a case to try to investigate it as much as we can,” said Lt. Keith MacArthur. “We only get one shot at this. You don’t want to turn stuff over prematurely.”

Catherine Gotcher-Girolamo, 73, accused certified nursing assistant Matthew Fluckiger of sodomizing her with his fingers while changing her diaper on June 19, 2019.

Gotcher-Girolamo said she told other caregivers at Avocado Post Acute immediately after the alleged incident. 

She also said she reported the alleged sexual assault that same day to Avocado’s administrator Dina Mookini.

Mookini, however, told state investigators that she was only aware of “rough handling” by Fluckiger and that Gotcher-Girolamo’s story seemed to evolve. Another manager told state investigators, however, that Gotcher-Girolamo’s account never changed.

Avocado waited eight days before reporting the allegations to El Cajon police even though the law requires every member of a nursing home’s staff to report abuse within two hours.

“The law says immediately,” MacArthur said. “The faster that we’re notified, it makes it a whole lot easier for us to get cooperation from victims and take them for a sexual assault exam and talk to witnesses.”

El Cajon Police also turned over to the DA’s office its investigation into an allegation that Fluckiger sexually assaulted a resident at San Diego Post Acute nursing home in August of last year, after he was fired from Avocado.

Gotcher-Girolamo expressed satisfaction that prosecutors are actually reviewing her case for possible charges against Fluckiger.

“I’m very pleased that happened,” Gotcher-Girolamo said. “I’m kind of surprised that it took so long.”

Lawyer Tony Chicotel of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform said the year lag time between the alleged sexual assaults and the police department’s referral of the two cases to the DA’s office would enrage communities had the victims been younger.

“From a nursing home resident advocate perspective, this is par for the course, the victimization of older people is tolerated in a way that we don’t tolerate in society at large,” Chicotel said.

He added there might be another reason for the police department’s delay.

“Their failure to turn it over to the DA sooner indicates that they didn’t think there was any possibility that the DA would take it or they didn’t have a lot of outrage about what was in those cases to compel them to move on it,” Chicotel said.

He added that the DA’s office should also consider prosecuting Avocado staff who failed to notify police immediately after Gotcher-Girolamo told them she had been sexually assaulted.

A California Department of Public Health investigation of Gotcher-Girolamo’s allegations found that Avocado also failed to submit its own probe of her complaint to the state within five working days, as required.

The state’s inquiry also concluded that Avocado’s allowance of Fluckiger to return to work just days after he had been accused of sexual assault jeopardized the safety of Gotcher-Girolamo and other residents at the facility.

 

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Two Sexual Assault Investigations At Different El Cajon Nursing Homes Turned Over To DA’s Office

It's hard to think about, but frail older women in nursing homes get sexually abused too

We don't often think of older women being victims of sexual assault, but such assaults occur in many settings and circumstances, including in nursing homes. Our research, published this week in the journal Legal Medicine, analysed 28 forensic medical examinations of female nursing home residents who had allegedly been victims of sexual assault in Victoria over a 15-year period.

The cases were examined by Clinical Forensic Medicine – a division of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine – between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2015.

The majority of the alleged victims had some form of cognitive or physical impairment. All 14 perpetrators who were reported were male, half of whom were staff and half other residents. The majority of case reports didn't indicate whether the alleged victim had received treatment for the assault.

The most frequent alleged sexual contact was vaginal contact or penetration. Injuries weren't reported for every case. Where present, they consisted of bruising, skin tears, redness and swelling.

The physical examination was often limited because of the cognitive status (in 38%) of the individuals, physical issues (in 31%), lack of cooperation (23%), and poor examination conditions (23%). Data on alleged victims' behaviour was commonly missing.

These information gaps highlight the difficulty of examination which is essential to a detailed investigation. A better understanding of the context and setting of the assault, which is usually available when younger women are victims, is essential to inform prevention efforts.

Eliminating sexual assault in nursing homes is a major challenge which starts with acknowledging it exists and recognising the scale of this abuse.

Much higher than we think

Sexual assault is considered the most hidden, as well as least acknowledged and reported, form of elder abuse. This makes it difficult to accurately estimate its prevalence.

Prior to 2007, it was estimated there were around 20,000 unreported cases of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation in Victoria. Between 2009-10 and 2014-2015 the published number of sexual assaults among older people rose from around 280 to 430 reports nationally (information about each jurisdiction was not available).

In 2015–2016 The Australian Department of Health was notified of 396 reports of alleged or suspected unlawful sexual contact of residents in nursing homes in Australia.

Based on these statistics, we expected Victoria would have 80-120 sexual assaults of residents reported in nursing homes per year (equating to approximately 1,200 assaults during the study period). The 28 cases reported to the forensic investigation team over a 15 year period suggests under-recognition and under-reporting.

Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to sexual assault due to their dependency on caregivers, health problems, and the co-housing of residents, sometimes with potentially dangerous older individuals with sexual assault backgrounds.

Negative stereotypes such as that older people aren't sexual beings, their greater dependency on others, potential divided loyalty to staff members or residents are unique barriers to reporting, detecting, and preventing sexual assault in nursing homes. Despite severe health consequences, efforts to prevent and address elder abuse remain inadequate.

In the majority of cases we examined, signs of general or genital injury were not found. Further, post-assault victim responses, such as agitation, distress and confusion may mirror symptoms of cognitive impairment. This can create difficulties for nursing home staff in distinguishing between the usual behaviour or a response to trauma, such as sexual assault.

Also, nursing home victims of sexual assault tend to be ignored by staff who often don't believe the accusations. Although we could not determine who or what prompted reporting, what is known is that sexual assaults are unlikely to have a witness, though witnesses appear to be crucial to ensure successful prosecution.

Sexual assault, in any setting or age group, is one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute due to the required elements of intent and lack of consent. But this is made all the more complicated when it comes to nursing home residents.

Awareness is crucial

Staff must be aware of the existence of sexual assault in nursing homes. It is their duty as care providers to report alleged or suspected sexual assault in a timely manner. More education, training and research is needed to address the knowledge gaps around incidence, levels of reporting, nature of investigations, responses required to better assist the victim, and the interventions needed to prevent sexual assault.

Without a clear understanding of the alleged victim and incident characteristics, we will struggle to combat sexual assaults in nursing homes. There is an urgent need to better use the existing data held by the the Department of Health to understand the full extent of sexual assault in nursing homes. The Royal Commission is an opportunity to consider the development of tailored policies, staff training and legislation.

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It's hard to think about, but frail older women in nursing homes get sexually abused too

Doctor who dodged jail time for allegedly sexually assaulting an incapacitated patient admitted to sexual contact

A former Texas doctor convicted Thursday of raping an incapacitated patient will serve no prison time after insisting that the sex with his patient was consensual. 

Shafeeq Sheikh, 46, a physician at Baylor College of Medicine was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault last month. But as CrimeOnline previously reported, a jury recommended no jail time, and he will serve only 10 years probation. The former doctor’s medical license has been taken away and he is also required to register as a sex offender after being found guilty of second-degree sexual assault.

In the state of Texas, a jury is allowed to recommend sentencing, and the judge in the case, Senior District Judge Terry L Flenniken, was required by law to follow the recommendation, according to the Houston Chronicle. The crime is reportedly punishable by 20 years in prison.

According to the Associated Press report, Sheikh, who was not scheduled to provide care for the female victim, acknowledged at trial that he did indeed have sexual contact with the patient while working a night shift in 2013, but insisted to jurors that it was consensual. The woman was in the hospital overnight, heavily medicated while suffering from an asthma attack when Sheikh came to her room several times in the night and sexually assaulted her, reportedly after noticing her breast implants. The patient reportedly tried summoning a nurse to help, the call button didn’t work.

While DNA evidence collected at the scene matched the DNA sample belonging to Sheikh, it took two years for any charges to be filed against the guilty doctor.

In addition to the rape kit findings, investigators reportedly determined that Sheikh swiped his badge on the victim’s floor at least 12 times the night of the assault, with surveillance video capturing him on the same floor.

“He sought her out. He chose her to prey on,” Assistant District Attorney Lauren Reeder said during Friday’s sentencing, according to the Associated Press.

“You know he’s the type of man who would go in multiple times, testing the waters, seeing how far he could go and get back to his normal business after that.”

In a statement through a former attorney, the victim gave no comment regarding the punishment and said she wanted to move on.

Full Article & Source:
Doctor who dodged jail time for allegedly sexually assaulting an incapacitated patient admitted to sexual contact

The Elder Abuse Crisis in Progressive Minnesota

by David Holmburg

I’m from Minnesota, and you might call me a loyalist. All my life, I’ve taken pride in the state’s reputation as a citadel of progressivism. It’s produced an impressive roster of socially conscious politicians—Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, Walter Mondale, Orville Freeman—and ranks at or near the top among the fifty states in social services, education, and cultural advantages.

But these days in Minnesota, there lingers the stigmatizing taint of elder abuse—the shocking (especially to a Minnesotan) revelation by the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis that “each year, hundreds of Minnesotans are beaten, sexually assaulted, or robbed in senior care homes. Their cases are seldom investigated, leaving families in the dark.”

A 2010 study showed a six-fold increase in reported incidents in the state’s senior care facilities, which may have been a catalyst for a 2017 investigation by the Star-Tribune that uncovered another disturbing statistic: in 2015, “the Minnesota Department of Health received 25, 226 allegations of neglect, physical abuse, unexplained serious injuries, and thefts in state-licensed homes for the elderly.”

Said a board member of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center, Iris Freeman: “We should all be appalled at this picture. Minnesota used to be at the top of the heap when it came to elder-abuse enforcement, and now we’re becoming known for being non-responsive.”

But the state did mobilize its legislative, law enforcement, and senior care resources in response to the Star-Tribune’s investigation. It was a response you’d expect in a state with a strong collective instinct for change when change is demanded. It improved compliance standards, developed better programs for training and monitoring employees, and opened communications between law enforcement and other agencies.

“It haunts me,” her son, Robert, said two years ago of his mother’s assault, and her emotional suffering in the dwindling days of her life. “It haunts me.”

Eric Klang, the police chief in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, who investigated one of the worst elder-abuse cases in the state in recent years, told the Silver Standard: “Now elder abuse is on everybody’s radar. It’s on the news every night.”

An elder abuse advocate Susan Scheller said that while Minnesota still has less of a problem with elder abuse than many other states, “we expect a lot better.” Referring to the crisis in recent years that has only somewhat abated, she said, “This [situation] is not acceptable.”

The ultimate definition of “not acceptable’ in elder care—other than a suspicious death—is sexual assault. And that occurred on May 8, 2016, at an assisted-living complex called Heritage House, located in the northern Minnesota town of Pequot Lakes.

A 78-year-old resident of the facility named Jean Krause, a former nurse, was assaulted by David DeLong, 59, a caregiver at the facility, who had worked there for several years and had a clean record. DeLong was found that night by a female aide, a few feet from Ms. Krause, with his jeans and underwear at his knees. He was trying to pull them up.

No one at Heritage House called the police for two hours. DeLong, meanwhile, was sent home for the night.

Full Article and Source:
The Silver Standard News: The Elder Abuse Crisis in Progressive Minnesota

See Also:
The EARN Project (Elder Abuse Reform Now Project)

The Unforgivable Truth

Abused And Betrayed

Source: Abused And Betrayed

Batavia Nursing Home owner faces charges in Mohawk Valley case

By Paul Mrozek 

The owner of Batavia Nursing Home pleaded not guilty last week to a violation of health laws at another skilled nursing facility of which he is part owner, Mohawk Valley Nursing Home in Ilion, N.Y.

Gerald “Jerry” Wood III, 30, of Dix Hills also allegedly tried to cover up the violations at the Mohawk Valley facility, according to the office of State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Wood purchased Batavia Nursing Home for $2,525,000 in 2013, while the 62-bed facility was in bankruptcy court. The defendant owns multiple nursing homes throughout the state.

Wood appeared May 7 in Herkimer County Court to answer charges in connection with the Mohawk Valley skilled nursing facility. The allegations are that Wood and three other owners or senior administrators of Mohawk Valley Nursing Home suppressed and covered up two medical incidents that occurred in May 2013.

The indictment alleges that a patient with severe dementia committed unlawful sexual conduct against another resident and that the incident occurred in an unsupervised dining room. A second charge in the indictment is that a serious medication error went undetected for several days.

Wood also allegedly eavesdropped on state investigators as they interviewed a nursing home employee.

Wood pleaded not guilty to four charges, two counts of willful violation of health laws, one count of eavesdropping and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy.

A call to Batavia Nursing Home Tuesday was referred to Gerald Wood III’s attorney, Richard Harrow of Albany. Harrow could not be reached to comment Tuesday.

The press office of the state Department of Health could also not be reached to comment.

The indictment filed in Herkimer County Court includes a total of 45 counts against the four defendants. One of Wood’s relatives, Justin Wood, 29, of Dix Hills, also a part-owner of the Mohawk Valley business and its technical manager, was charged with fifth-degree conspiracy.

Justin Wood and his co-defendants also allegedly destroyed electronic evidence of the two medical incidents.

The maximum penalty for the felonies the defendants face, eavesdropping, falsifying business records and tampering with physical evidence, is 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. The maximum sentence on the misdemeanor charges of willful violation of the health law, criminal possession of a forged instrument, forgery and conspiracy is one year in jail.

An ironic development concerning Batavia Nursing Home is that Marc Korn, its former owner,  faces criminal charges in federal court in Buffalo. Korn, 58, owned Batavia Nursing Home when the business filed for bankruptcy in 2011.

A federal grand jury indicted Korn last month. He allegedly lied to FBI investigators and concealed assets from his creditors, including a life insurance policy transferred to another individual.

Charges against Korn include wire fraud, bank fraud, failure to pay employment taxes and making false statements to law enforcement, according to the office of U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr.

The state Department of Health, in response to numerous problems at Batavia Nursing Home when Korn owned it, appointed an administrator in 2012 to run the facility. One of the issues at the nursing home prior to the bankruptcy filing was bounced employee paychecks.

Korn’s trial is slated to start May 20 in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

Full Article & Source:
Batavia Nursing Home owner faces charges in Mohawk Valley case

Linda Kincaid Reports: Family’s 3rd request to sheriff for elder abuse, sexual assault investigation

Sheriff John McMahon

In 2010, Jean Swope was taken from her home and hidden from family at Wildwood Canyon Villa, an assisted living facility in San Bernardino County, CA. Wildwood kept Jean in a locked unit and told family,

She is allowed no visitors and no phone calls.

Family begged the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for help. Documents filed with the court show that sheriff’s deputies aided the abusers and threatened Jean’s family. Jean’s daughter said she was afraid to be in San Bernardino County. A family friend said he was followed.

With Jean’s death, she is no longer in danger of abuse or retaliation. However, the abusers remain at large and free to continue abusing. Jean’s daughter says she is especially concerned about the possibility that a sexual predator may continue to abuse.

On December 23, 2014, Jean’s family sent the following letter to Sheriff John McMahon.

Sheriff McMahon,

RE: Third Request to Investigate Possible Repeated Sexual Assaults

In July 2010, we reported physical, mental, and financial abuse of my mom. SBCSD did nothing to help. Rather, a Deputy Grant Ward and a Sergeant Paul Morrison aided and abetted the abuse. My mom remained imprisoned and forcibly isolated.

In June 2011, we again reported physical and mental abuse of my mom. Captain Hamblin wrote that my mom was in a safe and well cared for state. My mom remained imprisoned and forcibly isolated.

In September 2013, I submitted excerpts of documents to Chief Bill Lenew, and I requested an investigation of possible repeated sexual assaults on my mom by a male caregiver at Wildwood Canyon Villa. Chief Lenew did not respond to my request. To our knowledge, there has been no investigation.

In August 2014, I submitted directly to you extensive evidence of physical, mental, and financial abuse, and evidence of repeated sexual assaults. To our knowledge, there has been no review of those documents and no investigation.

On November 26, 2014, we took the deposition of the male caregiver we suspect of repeatedly sexually assaulting my mom, possibly several times a week, for many months in 2011 and 2012. Our counsel asked, Did you sexually assault Carol Hahn? The deponent exercised his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination, and he refused to answer the question. The deponent also exercised his Fifth Amendment right concerning any employment from 2007 forward. Our counsel learned that the male caregiver worked for a number of assisted living facilities and inhome care services in San Bernardino.

On December 15, 2014, I wrote to directly to you with my second request for an investigation of possible repeated sexual assaults on my mom by a male caregiver at Wildwood Canyon Villa. That letter included indicators of sexual assault that were excerpted from documents created by VITAS hospice nurse Sandra Coggins, RN. You have not responded to that letter.

This letter is my third request for an investigation of possible repeated sexual assaults on my mom by a male caregiver at Wildwood Canyon Villa. This letter includes indicators of sexual assault that were excerpted from documents created by VITAS hospice physician Victoria Rains, MD. My next letter will include indicators of sexual assault from documents created by physicians at Kaiser Fontana Emergency Room.

To our knowledge, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has not conducted any investigation into the possibility of repeated sexual assaults against my mom. To our knowledge, your Department has not taken any action to protect other vulnerable elders in San Bernardino County.

Readers who suspect a loved on my have been sexually abused by a male caregiver can contact this Examiner at condorchick@gmail.com

Full Article & Source:
Family’s 3rd request to sheriff for elder abuse, sexual assault investigation

Linda Kincaid Reports: Community Care Licensing botched elder abuse, sexual assault investigation

On March 11, 2013, the family of Jean Swope reported that Jean may have been repeatedly sexually assaulted by a male caregiver at Wildwood Canyon Villa, a San Bernardino County, CA assisted living facility. Regulations require that Community Care Licensing (CCL) respond to a complaint within ten days.

Records from CCL show that Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Susan Parker conducted the required “10-day” visit on August 1, 2013, nearly five months after the complaint. Parker determined the complaint “Needs Further Investigation.” CCL files show the next activity on the case was January 21, 2014, more than ten months after the complaint. 

LPA Parker neglected to inform Jean’s family of her findings. In order to review the investigation report, family had to drive over 400 miles from northern California to Riverside, where the physical file is located. Family informed CCL supervisor Sylvia Lucero nearly a week ahead of their visit to review the file. On the day family visited the CCL office, Wildwood’s file was not available. Family had to make a second trip to the CCL office to obtain a copy of the investigation.

LPA Parker wrote in her Complaint Investigation Report:

Allegation regarding resident # 1 may have been sexually abused: In late July, early August 2012 resident #1 had some bleeding issues. The allegation is that resident #1 may have been sexually abused by a male caregiver who worked the night shift.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that vaginal bleeding in an elderly woman is an indicator of sexual assault. Parker neglected to mention that Jean had a hysterectomy at age forty. Parker neglected to mention that Jean said of the male caregiver, “They say we have to get married. I will not marry that man.”

This male staff person no longer works for Wildwood.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that Wildwood terminated the male staff person shortly after Jean’s vaginal bleeding.

LPA Parker reviewed resident #1’s file.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that Jean’s file showed she was terrified of the male caregiver. Jean had increased agitation on nights when the male caregiver was on duty. Jean fought, screamed, and begged for help. Wildwood responded by administering Ativan, Seroquel, and Haldol to “control agitation.”
LPA Parker neglected to mention that Wildwood “lost” records that would establish which caregivers were on duty in the six weeks prior to Jean’s vaginal bleeding and genital trauma.

In August 2012 resident #1 was taken to Kaiser Emergency due to increased bleeding. LPA reviewed the results of the ER visit from Kaiser and it did not indicate that the bleeding was due to possible sexual abuse.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that Wildwood’s records show Jean had blood clots and necrotic tissue in her vagina. Parker neglected to mention that Kaiser records show Jean had trauma to the tissues surrounding her vagina. Parker neglected to mention the Kaiser records show Jean was so terrified at the emergency room that she screamed and fought when the doctor attempted to perform an exam. Jean was sedated for an exam.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that Kaiser physicians stated they did not immediately suspect sexual abuse because Wildwood Canyon Villa did not report possible sexual abuse. Kaiser physicians expected Wildwood staff, as mandatory reporters, to fulfill their duty under California law.

LPA spoke with Memory Care Nurse Candi Hull. She stated that hospice was notified when the bleeding first occurred.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that under federal law, hospice only provides care for a terminal illness. Hospice does not provide care for injuries related to sexual assault. Wildwood did not report vaginal bleeding to Jean’s primary care physician at Kaiser. Wildwood did not report possible sexual assault to law enforcement, Adult Protective Services, or to CCL.

Hull also states that an outside company, Parent Care Management, contracted with Senior Home Caregivers to provide round the clock care to resident #1, so someone was always with resident #1.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that Candi Hull of Wildwood and Brian Davis of Senior Home Caregivers placed written instructions into Jean’s file. Private caregivers were instructed not to leave Jean alone unless a Wildwood staff person was with her. The private caregivers had permission to leave Jean alone with Wildwood’s male caregiver.

This was in addition to the care and supervision resident #1 received from Wildwood Canyon staff who provided care to resident #1.

LPA Parker neglected to mention that a 2012 investigation, during the time the repeated sexual assaults may have occurred, established that Wildwood caregivers had less than 45 minutes per day to provide the care needed by each resident. Another Wildwood resident who was just eight rooms away from Jean died in late 2011 due to neglect by Wildwood staff. Wildwood was cited for those deficiencies in providing care. The resident’s family sued Wildwood for wrongful death. To our knowledge, law enforcement did not investigate.

Hull was not aware of any concerns or problems with the male Wildwood Caregiver who provided care to resident #1. Therefore, the allegation is Inconclusive.

LPA Parker neglected to consider that Jean was terrified of the male caregiver, After Jean suffered vaginal bleeding and genital trauma, Wildwood quickly transferred Jean and terminated the male caregiver.

Legal counsel for Jean’s family took the deposition of the male caregiver. When asked under oath if he sexually assaulted Jean, the male caregiver exercised his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. He refused to answer any questions concerning employment from 2007 forward.

After Wildwood terminated the male caregiver, he worked for a number of other assisted living facilities and in-home care services in San Bernardino County. To our knowledge, CCL and the San Bernardino County Sheriff has done nothing to protect other vulnerable elders from sexual assault.

Readers who suspect a loved one may have been sexually assaulted by a male caregiver can contact this Examiner at condorchick@gmail.com.

Suggested Links

• Family asks CCL to investigate elder abuse, possible sexual assault
• Victim’s family asks Sheriff to investigate elder abuse, possible sexual assault
• Neglect and elder abuse caused death of California assisted living resident
• Facility cited for staff with criminal record, investigated for sexual assault
• Court appointed attorney may have investigated sexual assault at wrong facility

Full Article & Source:
Community Care Licensing botched elder abuse, sexual assault investigation

Denville man says he 'accidentally' sexually assaulted disabled woman, authorities say

A 58-year-old Denville man is facing sexual assault and neglect charges after he sexually penetrated a disabled woman, authorities say.

The woman, who is severely autistic, disclosed to authorities that Raymond Boyle sexually penetrated her, acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Denville Police Chief Christopher Wagner said in a joint news release.
 
When interviewed, Boyle admitted to "accidentally" penetrating the woman, they said.

Boyle was arrested Monday following an investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and the Denville Police Department, Knapp and Wagner said. The investigation is ongoing, they said.

Full Article and Source:
Denville man says he 'accidentally' sexually assaulted disabled woman, authorities say