A 32-year-old nursing assistant, Erick Sajche Meza, has been taken into custody and charged with second-degree sexual assault after allegedly abusing a 76-year-old resident at the Grace Barker Nursing Home in Warren, Rhode Island.
The incident reportedly occurred on July 4, when police received a complaint of a sexual assault at the nursing home. Upon arrival, officers met with a social worker who had spoken with the victim, who claimed that a certified nursing assistant (CNA) had inappropriately touched her.
According to the police report, the victim identified her alleged attacker as “Erick” based on the identification badge he was wearing. Further investigation revealed that Sajche Meza was the CNA in question.
The victim alleged that Sajche Meza entered her room during the nighttime rounds, ostensibly to assist her roommate. However, the victim claimed that Sajche Meza then got on top of her and simulated a sex act, ignoring her requests to stop.
The victim stated that Sajche Meza was fully clothed at the time, but had drawn the privacy curtain, preventing her roommate from witnessing the incident.
Police reviewed surveillance footage, which appears to corroborate the victim’s account. The video shows Sajche Meza conducting his rounds during the overnight hours and entering the victim’s room for a short period.
The nursing home conducts regular cognitive tests on its residents, and the victim had scored highly in these assessments. Police noted that the victim’s story remained consistent throughout multiple interviews.
Sajche Meza was arraigned and released on a $10,000 surety bond, with the condition that he have no contact with the victim. His nursing assistant license has been suspended pending the outcome of the case.
