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Hacienda investigation: Nurse indicted on charges of raping incapacitated woman

Posted at 5:41 PM, Jan 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-31 00:31:04-05

PHOENIX, AZ — A nurse suspected of raping an incapacitated woman who later gave birth at a long-term care facility in Phoenix has been indicted on charges of sexual assault and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

The document filed Tuesday mirrors charges that prosecutors filed last week against 36-year-old Nathan Dorceus Sutherland.

FULL COVERAGE: See latest updates in Hacienda HealthCare investigation

Sutherland is expected to enter a plea to the charges at an arraignment hearing next Tuesday.

His attorney, David Gregan, didn't immediately return a call Wednesday seeking comment.

Authorities say the 29-year-old victim was raped by Sutherland at Hacienda HealthCare. He was fired after his arrest.

Gregan has previously said there's no direct evidence linking Sutherland to the rape, but investigators say Sutherland's DNA matched a sample from the newborn.

Workers at the healthcare facility say they didn't know the woman was pregnant.

Hacienda has hired a third party manager, Benchmark Human Services, to oversee operations.

The Indiana-based company specializes in serving people with disabilities.