Nursing assistant sent to prison for sexual abuse of dementia patients

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Jayden Parker Sever sentenced to five years to life in prison for abusing elderly patients.
Sever, 20, admitted to crimes at Spring Gardens Senior Living in Heber City.
His father, Heber City Police Chief Parker Sever, reported him to the attorney general's office.

HEBER CITY — Jayden Parker Sever was sentenced Wednesday to at least five years and up to life in prison for sexually abusing two elderly dementia patients while working as a nursing assistant at the Spring Gardens Senior Living in Heber City.

Sever, 20, pleaded guilty to attempted rape and object rape, first-degree felonies, in December. As part of a plea deal, the prosecutor agreed to recommend that his sentences run concurrently.

For the charge of attempted rape, he was sentenced to a term of three years to life, and for the object rape charge he was sentenced to five years to life. Fourth District Judge Jennifer Mabey followed the prosecutors' recommendation and ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

Sever 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.

Management of the facility told investigators the 82-year-old "required assistance eating and did not speak more than a few words."

Sever worked at the senior care center starting in October 2023, but was fired on March 6, 2024, charges say. A spokesperson for Spring Gardens Senior Living told KSL.com that his "termination was unrelated to the allegations in this case."

Sever is the son of Heber City Police Chief Parker Sever. Jayden Sever told his dad what he had done and his father turned him in to the Utah Attorney General's Office, spurring the initial investigation.

Mabey recommended to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole that Sever be given credit for time served, according to court documents, which would amount to 257 days.

He is scheduled to appear in court on May 21 for a restitution hearing.

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