Of two elderly patients in local nursing facility

A certified nursing assistant is charged with two felony counts of abuse by caretaker and two felony counts of sexual battery after it was reported he’d sexually assaulted two elderly patients at a local nursing facility.

Formal charges were filed on February 27 against Robert P. Seward, 23, of Roland. He received a $50,000 bond and is now scheduled for a March 27 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters. According to court documents, Seward is to have no contact with either of the alleged victims as a condition of his bond.

Roland Police officer Jason Stone reported on Feb. 17 that two female patients had allegedly been abused by a certified nursing assistant, identified as Seward.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, a witness reportedly saw Seward in one of the female patient’s rooms. The witness told authorities Seward was touching the female patient inappropriately and was not wearing any gloves. The female patient reportedly suffers from dementia, and Seward stated he was giving the patient a bath even though he didn’t have any bathing supplies on hand.

Another witness said they saw Seward put his hands inside another female patient’s undergarment without any gloves on. The witness said Seward’s actions were reportedly not within policy or training of a CNA, and the second victim also suffered from dementia and was nonverbal.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said each count of abuse by caretaker is punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years or by a $10,000 fine, or both; while each sexual battery charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years.