A nursing home worker has been charged with sexually assaulting a 72-year-old patient in his care.
The staff at Manassas Nursing Home and Rehab called police May 27 to report that the woman had been assaulted in the facility.
Police investigated and charged Homer C. Valdez, 35, of 8576 Cabot Court in Manassas Park, in connection with the crime.
Valdez was an employee of the nursing home at the time of his arrest. He was charged with object sexual penetration, said Prince William police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn.
Valdez was held without bond. Nursing home officials would not say how long Valdez had worked at the facility, or in what capacity.
He has been suspended from his job at the nursing home pending the outcome of his court case, said David Tucker, director of Commonwealth Care, the organization that manages the Manassas nursing facility.
“This is something that we take very seriously and he will not be back working until after an investigation by law enforcement and a subsequent trial is completed,” said Tucker.
Tucker said staff members in the facility are now interviewing other residents to find out if there may be other victims.
At this point the 72-year-old woman is the only victim to come forward.
Commonwealth Care has managed the facility since December 2006 and employs about 100 people.
The facility can house up to 120 people, said Tucker.
Commonwealth also manages Gainesville Health and Rehab.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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