Is that all?
Remember the story that I posted some months ago about the man who walked into a local hospital here in Rochester, and raped a woman who is paralyzed? Here is the update on what happened to him. This was in the Democrat and Chronicle, our local newspaper. I can’t believe that he got off so easy!
Man admits to sexual abuse of hospital patient
Michael Zeigler
Staff writer
(December 13, 2007) — A man who had been banned twice from Strong Memorial Hospital admitted today that he walked into the hospital without permission and sexually abused a paralyzed patient.
Edward C. Ewanow, 50, pleaded guilty to the felonies of second-degree burglary and first-degree sexual assault in exchange for a prison term of 4 1/2 years and five years of supervision by parole authorities after his release.
State Supreme Court Justice John J. Ark accepted the plea over the objection of the prosecution, which said Ewanow deserves a prison term of at least seven years.
“This defendant is an absolute menace to society,” said Assistant District Attorney Stefanie Guido.
On March 16, Ewanow donned a “Friends of Strong” smock designated for hospital volunteers to give him free access to the hospital, Guido said. He went to the room of the woman, whom he knew, and molested her as she lay helpless in her bed.
The woman is paralyzed below the waist and has been traumatized by the attack, Guido said.
After the incident, the hospital began requiring volunteers to wear identification badges.
“This incident, as traumatizing as it was, should certainly serve as an alarm bell going off in the hospitals of this community, that they should do whatever they have to do to enhance security,” Ark said.
The University of Rochester banned Ewanow from university property, including the hospital, in 1992 after six encounters with him. He was arrested for trespassing after two of those encounters.
He was arrested and banned again in 2004 after being seen roaming on hospital property.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
In Western State Hospital, a nurse who molested a patient with dementia got 3 months and probation. At a local children’s residential treatment facility, a guy got a hung jury because they used the psychiatric records against the victims. But this case is ridiculous, he was banned and arrested for trespassing and he still got in? I can’t believe a hospital that doesn’t require badges for everyone, volunteers and visitors, in this day and age. This was so preventable.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Yes, this hospital is known as the Evil Empire, especially in its treatment of people with disabilities. The hospital, and the press tried, in effect, to put the blame on the woman, but thankfully, the paper got in touch with my agency, and one of my colleagues set them straight.