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Sam Penrod ReportingA former nursing home worker accused of molesting several elderly patients went to court today. It was suppose to be a preliminary hearing in the case, where prosecutors would present evidence in the case, but the defendant waived that right, apparently to preserve a plea deal he is still considering.
Back in July of this year, 33-year old Jesus Partida went to police and confessed to molesting eleven patients in his care at an American Fork nursing home. Partida is charged with eleven counts of forcible sex abuse.
Since the abuse allegedly occurred, most of the victims have passed away. However, several of their family members were at court today, prepared to testify of their loved ones demeanor while the abuse was going on. But Partida agreed to waive the hearing and consider a plea deal.
David Sturgill, Prosecutor: "If he went forward with the preliminary hearing and caused me to put witnesses on the stand, the offer would be revoked, and so to avoid that, his client decided to waive today, which is good. It saves some of the victims' families from taking the stand and having to talk about some unpleasant things."
Partida will have a couple of weeks to think about the plea deal, before he enters a plea to the charges. The specifics of what the plea deal may be are not being released right now.
The defendant will be back in court in this case, on January 5th.
