A former nursing assistant pleaded guilty yesterday to six counts of third-degree sexual assault for fondling two elderly women, ages 92 and 89, at a Kahala nursing home last year.

  Mark A. Genetiano faces up to five years in prison for each of the charges when he is sentenced in state court in March.

But according to his plea agreement with the state, the prosecutor will recommend a sentence of five years' probation including a year in jail.

Genetiano remains in custody unable to post $250,000 bail.

He was fired from his job as a certified nursing assistant at Kahala Nui when Honolulu police arrested him on the charges in June.

The victims were in various stages of dementia, prosecutors have said.

Other workers observed Genetiano removing the victims' clothing and fondling their breasts, according to prosecutors.