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(KSL News/AP) -- A man who worked as a nursing assistant at a care center was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 elderly women.
In less than four hours a jury found Jesus Partida guilty of all the charges against him.
David Stargill, Prosecutor: "We're pleased with the verdict. I could tell the jury was a smart jury"
The jury didn't come back with a verdict until almost 11:00 last night. They found Partida guilty of sexually abusing ten elderly patients in his care when he worked as a nursing assistant at the Heritage Care Center in American Fork.
All of Partida's victims suffered from Alzheimer's or dementia. Two victims appeared in court Thursday, sitting in wheelchairs in the first row. Although they did not testify, they were introduced to the jury by prosecutor Dave Sturgill. Most of the victims died before Partida confessed to committing the crimes last year.
During the one-day trial, jurors heard testimony from two witnesses and watched videotaped confessions recorded by American Fork police in summer 2005.
Partida has since recanted his taped confessions. The defense tried to get them tossed out, saying it was Partida's made up attempt to get out of a failing marriage.
In his closing argument, Sturgill said there's nothing logical about a man confessing to crimes he didn't commit.
"You don't say something so heinous about yourself unless it's true," he told jurors.
Defense attorney Joseph Jardine said Partida lied because he believed the crimes were misdemeanors and would help him get a divorce.
Joseph Jardine, Partida's Attorney: "We knew it was all or nothing. We knew they would believe the confessions were true or false. Obviously they found the confessions were true."
David Stargill, Prosecutor: "They were three separate confessions that were remarkably consistent. Just watching the videos themselves, in my mind, was Jesus spilling his guts, telling the truth, relieving his conscience."
Partida's lawyers say they will base an appeal on the tapes being used in court.
Joseph Jardine, Partida's Attorney: "The issue of the confession not getting thrown out, that's a issue of first impression. It's an issue the courts have not spoken clearly on."
Partida's family says they will also seek an appeal. They feel the jury should not have made the decision in such a short period of time.
Heracio Ochoa, Partida's Brother-In-law: "To the family, our family...something went wrong and we don't think it was a fair trial."
For the state, they say the guilty verdict is a real victory for those who cannot speak for themselves.
David Stargill, Prosecutor: "They came back with the right verdict."
Partida's family says they will be appealing the verdict.
Partida was convicted on four first degree felonies, with each one carrying a sentence between five years and life in prison. Partida's sentencing hearing is set for the end of November.
(The Associated Press Contributed to this story)
