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HEBER CITY — A certified nursing assistant at an assisted living facility in Heber City was charged Monday with sexually abusing two patients who prosecutors say "were in the last, severe stages of dementia."
Jayden Parker Sever, 20, of Heber City, is charged in 4th District Court with attempted rape and object rape, first-degree felonies. Sever worked full time as a CNA and caregiver at Spring Gardens Senior Living from October to March.
Sever is the son of Heber City Police Chief Parker Sever. The chief turned his son into the attorney general's office, starting the investigation, after his son told him what he allegedly did.
"I'm really sad that this happened," the chief said. "My primary concern is for the victims of the crime. I pray for them and their families, and apologize for what occurred, what happened to them."
In an interview with police, Jayden Sever said "he has struggled with lust for several years," and began having thoughts of committing sex acts with a resident, the charges allege. "He had thoughts that he could easily sexually assault a resident and get away with it because they can't do much about it."
Beginning in February, Sever described multiple incidents of sexually abusing an 85-year-old woman with late-stage dementia while no one was around, according to the charges.
He tried to rape another 82-year-old resident while he was assisting her in the bathroom but stopped when she said "no," the charges say. He allegedly told the investigators that he replaced his clothes just before another employee walked into the room, which he "took as a sign from God."
Office managers told investigators this patient "required assistance eating and did not speak more than a few words."
On March 6, Sever was "let go" from the care center for unrelated reasons, according to court documents.
Candice Fine, a spokesperson for Avista Senior Living, the company managing the Spring Gardens Heber facility and six others in Utah, released a statement, saying, "We are deeply troubled by the recent news of the arrest of a former employee on allegations of sexual abuse of two residents.
"Mr. Sever had passed a background check before employment, and during his tenure with us, there were no reported incidents or indications of inappropriate behavior. Nonetheless, we are taking this matter very seriously."
Fine said they are conducting an internal investigation and cooperating with law enforcement.
The charging documents said Sever had "previously confessed his actions to a former co-worker at Spring Gardens." A company spokesperson said Spring Gardens has a "clear written policy for reporting abuse of any kind," and is " is unaware of any employee having previous knowledge of Mr. Sever's actions."
