More women accuse nursing assistant of ‘unwanted sexual contact,’ official says

Article from The Oregonian

A certified nursing assistant already charged with raping an elderly patient is facing additional accusations of “unwanted sexual contact,” an official said Wednesday.

The seven women, including five who came forward after Adeladilew A. Mekonen was arrested last week, are between 27 and 94 years old, said Sgt. Bob Ray, a Washington County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Mekonen was arrested Sept. 14 on accusations of raping an 87-year-old woman at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She has since filed a $1 million lawsuit against Providence Health & Service, alleging negligence and abuse of a vulnerable person.

In June, a 94-year-old patient also made a complaint about Mekonen that could not be substantiated at the time, Ray has said.

The Oregonian/OregonLive previously reported that investigators had identified several other potential victims. He has been formally charged of sex crimes involving one woman, as of Wednesday.

Ray said Wednesday that the additional women have contacted the office to say they think they’ve been victims of “unwanted sexual contact.”

Not all of the potential victims, Ray said, are associated with the hospital.

Mekonen, 34, of Portland, is scheduled to appear Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court. Ray said more information about the case will be available after the 3 p.m. hearing.

Mekonen was terminated after his arrest, a Providence spokesman said.

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