Nursing Assistant Accused Of Rape At Peninsula Care Facility

PALO ALTO, CA — Police arrested a nursing assistant Thursday on suspicion of sexually assaulting one of the female patients at a care facility.

The dispatch center received a report Monday at 3:30 p.m. from an employee of the Webster House Medical Center located at 437 Webster St. that one of its patients had reported she had been raped by a nurse who had been caring for her. The supportive care facility is used by patients who need short- and long term rehabilitation.

The investigation revealed that the male nursing assistant identified as Jeremias Frago-Rodriguez, 63, had entered the victim’s room on Sunday to check on her. According to the report, the female patient in her 70s was recovering from surgery and required assistance.

During the encounter, the suspect drew the privacy curtains around the bed and sexually assaulted her, the police department added.

The East Palo Alto man was booked at the Santa Clara County Main Jail on accusations of rape, sexual penetration, oral copulation, sexual battery, which are all felonies. He's also facing an elder abuse violation, a misdemeanor.

Detectives would like to know if there are additional victims and are actively investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.