ROLAND, Ark. — A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two non-verbal dementia patients at a Roland nursing home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Robert Seward was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail under charges of abuse, sexual battery, and neglect or exploitation by a caretaker.
According to court documents, two patients had been abused by Seward while he was working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Court documents state the crimes happened at an address connected to the Sequoyah East Nursing Center.
The alleged abuse was reported to Officer Brian Simpson on Feb. 17, who was told by one witness that they saw Seward touching a 62-year-old inappropriately without gloves.
Seward reportedly told the witness he was bathing the patient, but she said he had no supplies in his hands. The witness told police that Seward's actions were "not the normal care for a patient."
Seward was reportedly seen putting his hand down the front of another patient's diaper to see if the 73-year-old had urinated on herself.
According to the affidavit, the witness said "Seward's actions were not within the policy or training of a CNA."
Following the investigation, a warrant for Seward's arrest was issued on Feb. 27.
5NEWS has contacted the Sequoyah East Nursing Center about Seward's current employment status but we have not received an answer.
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