| For Immediate Release Case # 12HF0393 November 30, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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PATIENT CARE ASSISTANT CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN AND BATTERING A THIRD WHILE THEY WERE RECOVERING IN THE HOSPITAL
SANTA ANA – A patient care assistant was convicted and sentenced today for sexually assaulting two women and battering another while they were in-patients at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. Narcisco Romanes Blando, 48, Orange, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of sexual battery on an institutionalized person and two misdemeanor counts of battery. He was sentenced to four years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration.
At the time of the crimes, Blando worked as a patient care assistant at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center.
On Aug. 11, 2011, 60-year-old Jane Doe #2 was an in-patient at the hospital. While the victim was recovering from surgery, Blando stroked Jane Doe #2’s hair and kissed her lips and cheek against the victim’s will. Blando had no medical reason or necessity for touching Jane Doe #2.
On Feb. 6, 2012, 54-year-old Jane Doe #1 was an in-patient at the hospital. Blando sexually assaulted her while she was in her hospital bed by rubbing her vagina under her hospital gown under the pretense of applying lotion after the victim complained of pain in her ankle. There was no medical reason or necessity for the defendant to touch the victim’s vagina. Blando stopped when Jane Doe #1 began to cry.
Jane Doe #1 cried herself to sleep. When the victim awoke, she found Blando again in her room stroking her hair. Blando stroked Jane Doe #1’s hair while she was sleeping and after she woke up, kissed her forehead, and asked her for a kiss. He had no medical reason or necessity for touching Jane Doe #1 or being in her room.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated these cases and the Orange County District Attorney’s office filed charges against Blando for the assaults against Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2. As a result of media coverage in the case, law enforcement was able to identify a third victim, Jane Doe #3.
On Jan. 2, 2012, 65-year-old Jane Doe #3 was an in-patient at the hospital. Blando entered her room and removed her call-button to prevent the victim from calling for help. He sexually assaulted her while she was in her hospital bed by rubbing her vagina under her hospital gown with no medical reason or necessity for touching Jane Doe #3 or being in her room. Blando left the room after the victim yelled at him to stop.
The victims in this case do not know each other.