Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sandra Yi Reporting A jury tonight is deciding the fate of a former nursing assistant accused of sexually abusing patients in his care.
Jesus Partida confessed to police last year, and later recanted. Now the jury has the case.
This trial began in a Provo courtroon this morning and moved quickly. The case went to the jury around 7 pm.
The jurors have access to a video taped confession by Jesus Partida. They need to decide if that's enough to convict him. The state did not show other evidence during the trial.
This afternoon, jurors saw the only two surviving alleged victims, including 82-year-old Mary Ann Vestal, who has Alzheimer's disease.
Roxanne Craft/Daughter of alleged victim: "I have never heard of anything like this. It's just disgusting. I just want to throw up every time I think about it." "He has to pay, because he's hurt a lot of people."
David Sturgill, Prosecutor: "I just wanted the jury to realize these are real people. People with histories, with pasts, with family members, personalities. Real people."
Both surviving alleged victims are in wheelchairs and cannot testify. All ten of Partida's alleged victims have a degree of Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Most died before the case came to light last year.
That's when Partida voluntarily went to police and confessed on tape and in writing that he had sexually abused the women, who are or were clients at the Heritage Care Center in American Fork.
Partida has since recanted his confession. Partida's attorney says the confession was prompted by Partida's desire for a divorce from his wife. He also says Partida was scared of the detective who took his confession.
Joseph Jardine, Defense Attorney: "The officer said, 'If you don't tell the truth, I'm going to get meaner with you,' and he raised his voice when he said that. So Mr. Partida, being a person who is here legally-- with permission of the U.S. to be here-- hearing those words, was afraid."
Partida faces 15 felony sex charges. Four are first degree felonies, which carry penalties of five years to life in prison.
