Man Charges on Three Counts of Sexual Elder Abuse at Nursing Home Waives Hearings
A man who was arrested on three counts of sexual elder abuse in August waived his preliminary hearings on Thursday, October 17th. When he goes to court on November 7th for arraignment, it will be for all three of the sexual elder abuse charges.
Antonio Nieto, 41, was accused of sexually assaulting three victims at the Broomsfield Skilled Nursing Facility in Colorado. The victims were 59, 73, and 93 years old. The first two victims reported Nieto’s sexual elder abuse after he was assigned to their care. Nieto sexually assaulted the 59-year-old patient between July 10 and July 19, and then continued to work at the nursing facility for a month after the first allegation. An internal investigation at the skilled nursing facility found the victim’s sexual elder abuse claims to be “unfounded.” Nieto then abused the 73-year-old patient on August 14th. No details have been released about the 93-year-old victim.
After the second accusation of sexual elder abuse, the facility contacted police and Nieto was arrested. The second victim said that Nieto was helping her to the rest room when he sexually assaulted her.
All of the alleged victims “were physically helpless and were at-risk adults,” Broomfield County Court Judge Amy Bockman said during a hearing in early October.
In the affidavit, Nieto admitted that he had sexual contact with both victims after he was “turned on” at work. He told police that he was embarrassed by his actions, and has been cooperative during the investigation into the sexual elder abuse charges. He has no other arrests or criminal record.
Sexual Elder Abuse
Many forms of abuse are unfortunately common for elderly patients. Caregivers and family members can become frustrated with the elderly person and physically or emotionally abuse them. The elderly person could be neglected, either because they are unable to communicate their needs to family members, or their legal caregivers refuse to do their jobs. Greedy family members or friends could use the elderly person’s failing memory to exploit money from them, leaving the patient without resources.
Sexual abuse is one of the most emotionally difficult types of elder abuse. Residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities could face sexual abuse from other residents, or from staff members. These people could take advantage of the patient’s dementia or worsening physical condition.
Perpetrators of sexual abuse against the elderly can use this embarrassment to their advantage. They could use mental and physical incapacity in the victim to claim that they were elsewhere, or that the victim gave consent and simply forgot. They could also claim that they did not know about the victim’s incapacity.
Changes in behavior, unexplained bruises, depression, dehydration and malnutrition, and fear around certain people are all signs of abuse. In South Carolina, you can contact the Department of Social Services’ Adult Protective Services Division by phone at (803) 898-7318 or visit their website: https://dss.sc.gov/
The Strom Law Firm Prosecutes Perpetrators of Sexual Elder Abuse
If your loved one is a resident of a skilled nursing facility, long term care facility, assisted living, or independent living facility, and has faced sexual elder abuse from employees or fellow residents, you do not have to suffer in silence. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm fight a variety of elder abuse and neglect cases, because it is very important that we hold these facilities to the highest possible standard. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800.
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