Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania - St. Stephen's Living Center Employee Bernie Stein Accused of Sexually Assaulting Resident

St. Stephen’s Living Center Employee Charged with Raping Female Resident

Last Updated: 7/13/2020

Attorney Commentary: In the second part of this story, sexual assault lawyer Guy D'Andrea will discuss the legal rights of nursing home sexual assault victims and their families.

An employee of the St. Stephen’s Living Center nursing home in Nanty Glo has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a female resident with a mental disability.

30-year-old Bernie Stein has been charged with several offenses, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and abuse of a care-dependent person.

A Nanty Glo Borough police officer responded to the assisted living facility on November 13, 2018, to investigate a reported sexual assault. The responding officer spoke with the victim and was notified of two incidents that allegedly happened within the previous 48 hours.

The police report says that the first incident happened on Sunday, November 11. Stein is accused of making advances towards the woman and telling her that he wanted a sexual relationship with her. The woman told police that she felt uncomfortable and went to her room.

According to the report, the second incident happened the following night. Stein reportedly knocked on the woman's window and the woman went out to the hallway to confront her. She then returned to her room and Stein entered the room, where he allegedly raped her.

The victim underwent a sexual assault examination at the Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, which found bruising and red marks on her legs. Kreinbrook Psychological Services determined that she was unable to consent to sexual intercourse.

Legal Options For Nursing Home Sexual Assault Victims and Their Families

Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea is a former sex crimes prosecutor who now represents sexual assault victims and their families in civil lawsuits. Brian has some information to share on the legal rights of nursing home sexual assault victims:

Nursing homes should be safe environments for their residents, as the primary duty of these facilities is to care for those who struggle to care for themselves. While most nursing homes take good care of their residents, cases of nursing home abuse and neglect are tragically common. There have even been numerous cases of nursing home employees charged with sexually abusing residents.

When a nursing home employee is arrested on sexual assault charges, the case must be fully investigated. The facility should and the perpetrator should both be investigated. Some of these cases only happen because of nursing home negligence, such as hiring an employee with a history of sexual misconduct. In cases of negligence, the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit.

If you or a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation with one of our experienced sexual abuse victim lawyers.

Sources:

https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/assisted-living-employee-charged-with-raping-mentally-ill-resident/

https://wjactv.com/news/local/assisted-living-employee-in-nanty-glo-accused-of-raping-woman-with-mental-disability