Bridey Rose
Veteran Member
Police: Employee had sex with patient at rehabilitation center near Pottsville
- By Hyun Soo Lee Staff Writer
- Mar 29, 2024 Updated 20 hrs ago
Richard L. Hall, 39, of 128 E. Bacon St., was charged Thursday with five felony counts of institutional sexual assault after he allegedly had sex with a female resident in her room at Luther Ridge at Seiders Hill, 160 Red Horse Road.
According to police, an employee had reported seeing Hall, an activities coordinator, having an inappropriate encounter with the resident.
When interviewed Feb. 6, the victim alleged that Hall approached her a few days after her arrival and told her it was “love at first sight,” police said.
The victim said she and Hall began spending time together in her room, often while other residents were engaged in activities in the common room.
She told police that Hall would order her to perform sexual acts in her bathroom to avoid others from hearing.
They also began having sex on her bed, she said, usually on weekends when there were few staff.
During their last sexual encounter, the two were caught by another employee who came up to check on her, according to police.
The employee, a med tech/resident aid, alleged that Hall told her he would be in the resident’s room to fix her wheelchair. She said she found it odd that he was fixing the wheelchair because it was dinnertime.
When the employee went upstairs, she unlocked the door with her master key and saw the defendant and the victim standing in the dark room, and the victim was partially naked.
The employee further related that Hall came up with an alibi involving him changing her clothes, while the victim began to cry and said they are “two consenting adults” and should be allowed to have sexual intercourse, according to police.
The resident told the employee that she and Hall were in a relationship and that they love each other, police said.
Hall had not been taken into custody as of Friday morning, according to court records.
Police filed charges through the office of Magisterial District Judge Andrew J. Serina, Orwigsburg.
Police: Employee had sex with patient at rehabilitation center near Pottsville
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A high-school friend whose elderly sister with dementia resides in this facility brought this story to my attention. What some people won't do when given the opportunity to take advantage of a situation! And how many other residents did Mr. Hall do this to?
My friend is concerned because her sister is so gullible she's been taken advantage of by every phone scammer and his brother, so she'd probably believe Mr. Hall's professions of undying devotion. I say throw the book at him, lock him up, and throw away the key!
