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HEBER CITY — A nursing assistant pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexually abusing two elderly patients with dementia while working at Spring Gardens Senior Living in Heber City.
Jayden Parker Sever, 20, who worked full time as a CNA and caregiver at the facility until his termination in March 2024, pleaded guilty to attempted rape and object rape, first-degree felonies.
Sever was not personally present in court for the plea hearing. The investigation began after Sever confessed his actions to his father, Heber City Police Chief Parker Sever, who turned his son into the attorney general's office.
"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."
Jayden Sever told police "he has struggled with lust for several years," and began having "thoughts that he could easily sexually assault a resident and get away with it because they can't do much about it," according to charging documents.
The man admitted to sexually abusing an 85-year-old woman with late-stage dementia, the plea documents say. He also attempted to rape an 82-year-old while assisting her to the bathroom, according to court documents, but the woman said "no" and "ouch," stopping him.
Sever put his clothes back on just before another employee walked into the room, charges say, which he "took as a sign from God." Management told investigators the 82-year-old "required assistance eating and did not speak more than a few words."
Avista Senior Living — the company managing the Spring Gardens Heber City facility and six others in Utah — released a statement in July saying it was "deeply troubled" by the allegations and said Sever had passed a background check before employment and there had been no reported incidents or indications of inappropriate behavior.
Sever worked in the senior care center starting in October 2023, but was fired on March 6, charges say. A spokesperson for Spring Gardens Senior Living told KSL.com "termination was unrelated to the allegations in this case," which took place in February, according to the plea statement.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 12. As part of the plea, prosecutors have agreed to recommend the sentences run concurrently, though the judge is not bound by that recommendation.
