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PHOENIX (AP) – A nurse believed to be caring for a disabled woman in a long-term care facility was charged with having raped her, several weeks after she was diagnosed. Stunned its caregivers and family by giving birth to a baby Phoenix police said Wednesday that a child had been arrested, said Phoenix police chief Jeri Williams and arrested Nathan Sutherland, a licensed practical nurse. authorized, on a charge of sexual assault and a charge of mistreatment of vulnerable adults.
We owed this arrest to the newest member of our community – this innocent baby, "Williams said.
The surprise birth of last month triggered reviews by public agencies and highlighted safety concerns severely disabled or incapacitated patient He also urged the authorities to test the DNA of all men working in the Hacienda HealthCare facility.
Sutherland, 36, submitted his sample of DNA under court order Tuesday and the results came back a few hours later, showing that he was a good partner to the baby.He refused to speak to the police and invoked his rights to the Fifth Amendment, said Police spokesman, Tommy Thompson.
Sutherland, dressed in a T-shirt, black sports pants and jacket, appeared in court on Wednesday. A Commissioner of the Superior Court of Canada omitted Maricopa ordered his release on bail of $ 500,000. He must also wear an electronic monitoring device.
The defense attorney, David Gregan, had applied for a lower bond, citing the lack of criminal record. He described Sutherland as a family man with young children who has been living in Arizona since 1993.
"There is no direct evidence that Mr. Sutherland committed these acts," said Gregan. "I know that there is DNA at this stage, but he will be entitled to his own DNA expert."
Gregan did not immediately return a message requesting comment.
Hacienda officials fired Sutherland after learning of his arrest. The company said that she was "troubled beyond words". Sutherland has a thorough background check.
"Once again, we apologize and extend our deepest condolences to the client and her family, the community and our partners at all levels," Hacienda said in a statement.
The 29-year-old victim was admitted to a long-term care facility since the age of 3 and gave birth on December 29th. Employees stated that they did not even know that she was pregnant. As a guardian, the woman's mother had to present to the court an annual report including the results of a medical examination
The case had prompted key personalities of Hacienda HealthCare, including the CEO, to leave office or to discipline them. According to the claimant, one doctor who took care of the woman resigned and another was suspended.
Previous accounts had described the patient as being comatose or in a vegetative state. But his parents issued a statement Tuesday challenging this characterization.
They described her as intellectually deficient due to seizures in early childhood. Although she does not speak, she has some mobility in the limbs, head, and neck. She also reacts to the sound and can make gestures in the face.
The family's attorney, John Micheaels, said in a statement that he was aware of the arrest but that he did not want to comment.
Thompson said that he believed the baby was since. released from the hospital. The woman's family said that she would take care of him.
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Associated Press editors Paul Davenport and Jacques Billeaud of Phoenix contributed to the writing of this report.
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