Lawyer: No Proof Nurse Raped Arizona Patient Who Had Baby
PHOENIX—A nurse who was supposed to be looking after an incapacitated woman at a long-term health care facility was charged on Jan. 23, with raping her, weeks after she stunned her caregivers and family by giving nascency to a babe boy.
Nathan Sutherland, a licensed practical nurse, has been arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of vulnerable adult abuse, according to court records.
"We owed this arrest to the victim. We owed this arrest to the newest member of our community—that innocent baby," Phoenix Law Main Jeri Williams said.
The surprise birth late last month triggered reviews by state agencies, highlighted safety concerns for patients who are severely disabled or incapacitated and led to disciplinary actions and resignations of staffers and managers. Information technology also prompted authorities to test the Deoxyribonucleic acid of all the men who worked at the Hacienda HealthCare facility.
Sutherland, 36, submitted his DNA sample under court order Tuesday and the results came back a few hours afterward, showing he was a match to the babe. He declined to speak with law and invoked his 5th Amendment rights, police spokesman Tommy Thompson said.
Sutherland appeared in court Wednesday merely did not enter a plea. A Maricopa Canton Superior Court commissioner set a $500,000 cash-but bond. If Sutherland posts bond, he would need to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Defense attorney David Gregan had asked for a lower bond on the grounds that Sutherland didn't have a criminal record. He described his customer equally a family unit homo with young children who has lived in Arizona since 1993.
"There's no directly evidence that Mr. Sutherland has committed these acts," Gregan said. "I know at this point in that location's Deoxyribonucleic acid. But he volition take a right to his ain DNA skilful."
Gregan did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Investigators found that Sutherland had treated the victim and spent a lot of time with her, according to a likely cause statement. Investigators believe Sutherland raped the patient quondam between February and April.
A former neighbour, Esella Burr, said she lived next to Sutherland, his married woman, and iv children for more than than five years. She often saw the couple exit for church on Sundays and they would conversation occasionally.
"I can't believe it," Burr said. "He told me he was a nurse and he liked his job."
Court records indicate his wife filed for divorce seven weeks ago. A bulletin left at a number listed for her was non immediately returned.
Wife of Hacienda HealthCare rape doubtable filed for divorce before victim gave birthhttps://t.co/mQ4F4C1GmR moving-picture show.twitter.com/fU9smmbERs
— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) January 24, 2019
Hacienda officials fired Sutherland after learning of his arrest. The company said it was "troubled beyond words." Sutherland had passed an all-encompassing background check.
"Once once more, we offer an apology and transport our deepest sympathies to the client and her family, to the community and to our bureau partners at every level," Hacienda said in a statement.
The 29-year-old victim has been in long-term care since age three and gave birth at the facility on December. 29. Employees said they had no idea she was pregnant. Every bit her guardian, the woman'southward mother was required to submit an annual report to the court that included results of a medical exam.
The instance has prompted the departure or discipline of key figures at Hacienda HealthCare, including the CEO. The provider says i doctor who had cared for the woman resigned and another had been suspended.
Earlier stories had described the patient as being comatose or in a vegetative state. But her parents released a argument Tuesday disputing that label.
They described her every bit intellectually disabled because of seizures in early childhood. While she doesn't speak, she has some mobility in her limbs, head, and neck. She also responds to audio and can brand facial gestures.
The family's chaser, John Micheaels, said in a statement that they knew near the arrest but did not want to annotate.
Thompson said he believes the infant has since been released from the infirmary. The woman'southward family has said they will care for him.
By Terry Tang
burdickalwastood56.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.theepochtimes.com/lawyer-no-proof-nurse-raped-arizona-patient-who-had-baby_2777694.html
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