MELBOURNE, Fla. — A female assisted living facility employee was arrested Monday after police say she sexually battered an elderly patient last year.
- 39-year-old woman charged with lewd and lascivious molestation
- Facility managers said she disappeared, later found in patient's room
- Sex assault kit results back up man's claim of battery, detectives say
- ELSEWHERE: Group Home CEO Suspended After Disabled Woman's Pregnancy
Guettie Belizaire, 39, was arrested on a warrant and is facing charges of lewd and lascivious molestation and abuse of an elderly person.
She's been a certified nursing assistant since 2003 and has no record of complaints or disciplinary action, according to the Florida Department of Health website.
The investigation began in December 2018, when managers at The Brookshire assisted living facility reported being unable to find Belizaire at work for more than an hour and a half.
"The supervisor went looking for her and found her in a patient room naked," said Melbourne Police Det. Tom Cahalan, who was in charge of the investigation involving Belizaire.
The patient told police investigators Belizaire had sexually battered him, though she denied even being in the room with the man, police said.
The patient, who is in his 70s, has various medical issues, and "based on the medical records of dementia and Alzheimer's, he could not legally give consent," police said.
He was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where a sexual assault kit was completed. In late March, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement returned the kit, in which DNA backed up the patient's claim.
"We obtained a DNA swab and compared it with DNA kit from the assault, and FDLE results show they were a match," Cahalan said.
In a released statement, The Brookshire said it's cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
"While the ongoing investigation of this case prevents us from commenting on details, we followed all of the appropriate protocols, including the immediate suspension and eventual termination of the employee in question. We will continue to fully cooperate with local authorities and state agencies as their investigation continues."
Belizaire made an initial appearance before a judge Tuesday, where her bond was set at $5,000 for each charge. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 8 a.m. May 9 at the Brevard County Courthouse in Viera.
Anyone who has information on the case is asked to call Melbourne Police detectives at 321-608-6453, or call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS if you wish to remain anonymous.
