Perhaps the most heinous of kinds of abuse that can occur against the elderly is the crime of sexual abuse. It occurs in caretaking situations and in nursing homes. However, it is not always the caretakers who are responsible for the assault. Sometimes it’s the other residents.
A 10-year sentence was handed down to a 56-year old Butte man for sexually assaulting a nursing home resident.
Judge Kurt Krueger awarded Jeffrey Garoutte a 600-day credit for the time he had already served at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center. He was transferred to Montana State Prison after sentencing.
Garoutte admitted to sexually assaulting a fellow nursing home resident, then 58, while he resided there.
The assault took place at the Crest Nursing Home in October of 2014. The confession was part of his plea agreement with county prosecutors. In the agreement, the initial charge of felony sexual intercourse without consent was lessened to sexual abuse of a person with a developmental disability. This charge is also a felony.
The victim was described as developmentally disabled with the mental capacity of a child. A facility nurse witnessed Garoutte leaning over the woman in a reclining chair with his hand near her privates.
Court documents reveal that the woman told the nurse that Garoutte was “hurting her privates.” The woman also reported being afraid of Garoutte.
If you have been the victim of abuse or neglect while in the care of a nursing home, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of Schenk Smith and let us fight for you. Contact us today.
