Preliminary Hearing Continues in Hospital Sex Assault Case

By Isabella Quink [former] - April 13, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault |

On April 12, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein granted a continuance for a preliminary hearing in a sexual assault case concerning a hospital employee and patient.

A 63-year-old defendant is charged with second-degree sexual abuse of a patient or client in connection to an incident at Bridgepoint Hospital on the 200 block of 7th Street, NE on Dec. 27, 2022. 

The defendant was an employee at the hospital at the time of the incident.

Defense attorney Nikki Lotze, who was new to the case, requested a continuance. Attorney Jania Reed filed a motion to withdraw as counsel prior and was granted permission. 

According to court documents, the victim was a patient at the hospital. She stated the defendant came into her room multiple times complimenting her.

The victim said he came back to her room multiple times to reposition her legs because she could not feel anything from the waist down. While he was doing so, he allegedly asked the victim if he could suck on her breasts.

The victim said she originally said no, but the defendant “snapped back” and she submitted out of fear.

When interviewed by police, the defendant stated he had been working in the medical sector for 23 years and there were no allegations against him for sexual assault.

However, according to court documents, he was arrested in 1996 for first-degree rape in Prince George’s County, Md.

DNA swabs were obtained from the victim during the investigation. According to the case report, swabs of the victims’ breasts showed that DNA could have come from the defendant.

The continued preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 5.