Holy Cross nursing assistant charged with sex attack on patient
A nursing assistant at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills has been arrested and charged with sexual battery on a patient, and Los Angeles police detectives suspect there may be additional victims.
Jeremias Diego, 44, allegedly assaulted the female patient Monday in her hospital bed while her sister lay asleep nearby in the darkened room, police said.
“After conducting several interviews, we now believe Diego may have done this to other patients as well,” said Det. Michael Brox, a senior detective at the LAPD's Mission police station.
Diego entered the 43-year-old woman’s room around 4 a.m., to take her vital signs and then removed some of the woman’s garments and touched her inappropriately under the bed covers, Lt. Paul Vernon said.
The alleged assault was interrupted when the woman tossed a tissue box at her sleeping sister to awaken her, Vernon said. She and her sister reported the behavior to nurses, who immediately called police, Vernon said.
Diego, a Thousand Oaks resident, has worked as a nursing assistant at Holy Cross since April.
Administrators at Providence Holy Cross also told detectives of an earlier complaint lodged against Diego by a female patient.
Anyone with information can reach Det. Brox at (818) 838-9902. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637
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Photo: Jeremias Diego. Credit: LAPD
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