| For Immediate Release Case # 08NF3469
January 13, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ANAHEIM POLICE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASK FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF MALE NURSE’S ASSISTANT CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING FEMALE PATIENTS
FULLERTON – The Anaheim Police Department and Orange County District Attorney’s Office are asking for the public’s help in identifying potential additional victims of a male nurse’s assistant, who is charged with sexually assaulting two women, 60 and 84 years old, while they were in his care. Alejandro Arias, 36, Cypress, is charged with three felony counts of sexual battery on an institutionalized person, two felony counts of sexual battery, one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object by force, and one felony count of attempted sexual battery. If convicted on these charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and six months in state prison. Arias is being held on $100,000 bail. Today in court his preliminary hearing date was set for Feb. 10, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Arias, a certified nursing assistant and assistant physical therapist at Anaheim Terrace Care Center, is accused of sexually assaulting two female patients while they were in his care and unable to resist due to medication and their medical conditions.
Between April 1, 2008, and July 18, 2008, Arias is accused of sexually assaulting 60-year-old Jane Doe #1 and 84-year-old Jane Doe #2 on separate occasions while they were in his care for temporary in-patient rehabilitation therapy. The victims do not know each other. He is accused of entering their respective rooms under the pretense of performing legitimate medical responsibilities. Arias is accused of assaulting the women including digital penetration, sexually touching their breasts and vaginas, and making them or attempting to make them masturbate his penis. Both victims reported the sexual abuse after leaving the care center.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Anaheim Police Detective Omar Adham at (714) 765-1623 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Tim Craig at (714) 347-8558. Deputy District Attorney Aleta Bryant of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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