A Bronx nursing assistant accepted a plea to six months in jail and five years’ probation after being found guilty of Endangering the Welfare of an Elderly Person in the second-degree and Sexual Abuse in the second-degree of a nursing home resident at Manhattanville Rehabilitation and Health Center in the Bronx. He pled guilty to Endangering the Welfare of an Elderly Person and Sex Abuse.
On February 18, 2014, Nanic Adasani was found on top of a helpless female resident with dementia, who is also mute due to a stroke. Adasani was found by another employee of the facility on top of the resident engaged in the act of raping the elderly patient. As a result of the abuse, Adasani was forced to turn in his nursing license and label himself as a Level Two Sex Offender, a label that will stay with him for life. He is also banned from working in the Department of Education in any capacity and subject to deportation after he serves his time in jail.
The victim’s children, who bought the case forward, said that their mother is traumatized and wakes up in the middle of the night sweating, fearful of another attack. The victim’s son spoke about the incident, saying that their community is very tight-knight and are supportive of them seeking justice for this horrific act. He continued to say that these type of things should not be happening in nursing homes, a place where people leave their loved ones to be cared for. New York Senator, Ruben Diaz and the Hispanic Clergy Organization rallied outside of Bronx Supreme Court chanting, “We Want Justice!”
On August 8, 2014, Adasani skipped court, claiming that he was in New Jersey receiving medical treatment; the family’s lawyer believed that the evidence made the case more real and he understood that he would be punished. In response, Adasani’s attorney stated that he was in a fragile state claiming that he tried to kill himself twice since the case began and asked that he be placed in protective custody for his stay at Riker’s Island.
Adasani was oringinally charged with second-degree attempted rape for the sexual assault, carrying a four year jail sentence; prosecutors did not feel that attempted rape charge would be successful. The family of the victim feels that his sentence is not enough for what he did to their mother; however they are grateful that he will be serving some time for his crime. The victim’s daughter said their goal was to prevent something like this from happening to anyone else and they believe this sentence prevents him from being able to do so.
Adasani refused to give comment as he rushed out of the courthouse; he is out on $20,000 bail until his sentencing scheduled for April 29, 2016.