| For Immediate Release Case # 08NF3469 July 10, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MALE NURSE’S ASSISTANT FACES TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN IN HIS CARE
SANTA ANA – A male nurse’s assistant faces trial tomorrow for sexually assaulting two women while they were in his care. Alejandro Arias, 39, Cypress, is charged with five felony counts of forcible lewd acts upon a dependent person by a caretaker, five felony counts of sexual battery on an institutionalized person, three felony counts of lewd acts upon a dependent person by a caretaker, 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 51 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, July 11, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
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 50-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.
If convicted, Arias’ lifetime sex offender registration would bar him from entering County recreational areas and City parks which have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance. Visit www.orangecountyda.com to read the prior press releases on the County’s Sex Offender Ordinance as well as the 13 other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone Ordinance including Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.
Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nichols of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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