A 24-year-old former nursing aide was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting three elderly female patients at a Kahala nursing home.

  Nursing Assistant Charged With Sexual Assault Makes First Court Appearance

 

More details about a former nursing assistant charged with sexually assaulting three elderly women in his care.

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Police charged Mark A. Genetiano of Kalihi with six counts of third-degree sexual assault Thursday. He was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail. The offense is a Class C felony.

Genetiano's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Honolulu District Court.

Genetiano was fired as a certified nursing assistant at Kahala Nui, an independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing facility at 4389 Malia St., on Wednesday, the day police arrested him.

Two witnesses told police of the assaults that occurred sometime prior to Mother's Day through June 1. The victims—two who are 92 years old and one 89 years old—are patients at Hiolani Care Center, a skilled nursing facility at Kahala Nui. The victims suffer from dementia.

According to a court document, one of the assaults occurred on May 29 when Genetiano and a co-worker was changing a patient into her pajamas to get her ready for bed.

At that time, his co-worker saw him hold down the victim's arms with his left hand and pinched her bare left nipple with his right hand. The victim yelled “;stop”; and “;leave me alone.”;

Genetiano's co-worker saw her swinging her arms and kicking at Genetiano. All the while, Genetiano was laughing.

According to the document, he fondled two other patients in a similar manner. He admitted to one case saying he pinched her because the patient struck his head and he wanted to hurt her for hurting him.

Deputy Prosecutor Scott Spallina of the Elder Abuse Justice Unit is handling the case.

The unit was created last year by Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle to prosecute crimes involving victims 60 years old and older, raise awareness and enhance prevention of elder abuse.

“;People don't like to think about it. People don't realize it's happening. It's a grossly under-reported crime,”; said Spallina.

The unit has a “;vertical prosecution team”; which means one prosecutor will handle a case from beginning to end, said Spallina.