As Maryland nursing home abuse attorneys, we recently read about the developments in a nearly decade-old case involving the abuse and rape of a 94-year-old female resident at a Palo Alto, California nursing home in 2002.
According to the Mercury News, 43-year-old Roberto Recendes recently pleaded guilty to one count of elder abuse, one count of sexual penetration by force, and also pleased guilty to an enhancement of inflicting bodily injury. Recendes is expected to be sentenced to 17 years in prison in December.
This 2002 California nursing home abuse case reportedly received national attention, when high school student Jorge Hernandez was arrested by the police in Palo Alto, and made to confess to the crimes. Hernandez was later cleared, due to DNA evidence.
In 2004, when Recendes was convicted of domestic violence charges, his DNA sample was taken. It was then later matched to the DNA found at the nursing home rape crime scene.
At the preliminary hearing for Recendes, an old girlfriend identified jewelry belonging to Recendes that was discovered at the crime scene of the rape, and a crime laboratory expert stated that two hairs found on the nursing home abuse victim’s blankets matched with Recendes’ DNA.
In the state of Maryland, if a nursing home fails to protect residents from nursing home abuse that can result in resident injury or death, the nursing home could be held liable for Maryland nursing home negligence or wrongful death. Our attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers represent victims and their families who wish to recover personal injury compensation from nursing home negligence and harm. Contact us today
Man Pleads Guilty to Rape of 94-year-old Woman at Palo Alto Nursing Home, Mercury News, October 19, 2010
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