SEXUAL PREDATOR NURSE SEXUALLY ASSAULTS TEN-YEAR-OLD PATIENT AT LAS VEGAS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

A ten-year-old psychiatric patient at a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital was sexually assaulted Christmas day, 2004, by a sex offender charge nurse. The Channel 8 news in Las Vegas reported on this sexual assault story. The child was a ward of the state of Nevada and had been committed to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation. The nurse had a prior conviction for attempted rape and reported the conviction on his employment application with the hospital. The hospital knowingly hired the sex offender nurse to work with psychiatric children at the hospital. The nurse targeted the minor child who had a reputation among hospital staff for lying.

After sexually assaulting the minor child twice Christmas day, 2004, the child reported the incident to a technician who immediately informed the sex offender nurse the child's story. The sex offender was allowed to confront the child about the incident before going home during his shift and washing his clothes. The hospital did not call the police but the child's mother did who showed at the hospital later that day for a visit. Police found corroborating evidence including gauze involved in the assault that contained both the child's and nurse's DNA. Police found the nurse's clothes in his washing machine at his home.

The child was badgered by hospital staff for several days following the incident until the child was forced to recant. The hospital had been instructed by the police not to speak to the child about the incident. The investigating detective again responded to the hospital wherein the child confirmed that the assault had occurred.

Over 8 1/2 years later and after the criminal trial had been continued 9 times, the nurse finally agreed to a plea agreement for the reduced charges of two counts of attempted sexual assault. Over eight years later, the child settled with the hospital.