RI Nursing Home Is Site of Two Alleged Sexual Assaults, Previously Fined $124K by Feds
GoLocalProv News Team
RI Nursing Home Is Site of Two Alleged Sexual Assaults, Previously Fined $124K by Feds
Now, Grace Barker is the site of two disturbing incidents of alleged sexual assaults against elderly women — one suffering from cognitive disease.
Warren police arrested nursing assistant Erick Sajche Meza on July 15 on two second-degree sexual assault charges.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAs GoLocal reported last week, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) subsequently suspended his license.
Most worrisome is that there were clear danger signs about Meza. It is unclear if administrators ignored them.
The alleged sexual assaults took place in the patients’ rooms on July 3, 2024. The details are difficult. One of the victims tried to fight off the attacker. The victim gave Warren police a detailed description of the incident and she knew Meza.
A hallway security camera captured Meza outside the victim’s room.
Multiple staffers gave Warren police statements about the incident and Meza’s behavior, some calling it unusual.
According to the 14-page police report prepared by Warren Police Department detectives, there were warning signs about Meza.
“I spoke with investigator Laura Serapiglia from the Department of Health. Investigator Serapiglia advised me Mr. Sajche Meza was named as an involved party at the Smithfield Woods senior living facility on 5/28/24. One of their residents accused Mr. Sajche Meza of inappropriately touching them while he was their CNA. The report was for documentation purposes,” stated the Warren Police Detective's report obtained by GoLocal.
Latest Trouble for Grace Barker
Earlier in July, RIDOH announced that it had "reprimanded" Grace Barker Administrator Benjamin Lescault for having employees without valid licenses working at the facility.
“On or about November 27, 2023, [RIDOH] received a complaint alleging that the Respondent was serving as the administrator of a long-term care facility that had nine (9) nursing assistants working within the facility without a valid license,” writes RIDOH’s Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (the "Board”).
In announcing Benjamin Lescault’s appointment in 2023, Grace Barker said, "At age 26, Mr. Lescault is one of the youngest, most experienced administrators in the United States to lead an elder care organization. He grew up in the family business and most recently served in the capacity of assistant administrator.”
In the enforcement action, RIDOH wrote, “On January 29, 2024, the Board reviewed the allegation and relevant evidence, including your response to the complaint. RIDOH, after review, and in conjunction with a recommendation by the Board, determined that the Respondent failed to conform to minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing practice of nursing home administration by their actions."
RIDOH said that the conduct constitutes unprofessional conduct as defined by Rhode Island law.
GoLocal reached out to Lescault about the RIDOH action.
When asked for a comment about the reprimand, Lescault initially responded with the following:
"The one on my license? I don’t have anything else with that," said Lescault in a phone call, when asked for comment on the reprimand.
"So were there 9 unlicensed nursing assistants at the facility that you were aware of — or not aware of?" GoLocal asked.
"Um, that’s a good question — I’ll have to talk to my lawyer about that," he responded.
Lescault provided his email address to comment, but he refused to respond to GoLocal questions.
The Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on September 29, 2023, issued a statement of deficiency, which found four deficiencies and fined the facility $114,806.
CMS wrote in the deficiencies, “During a surveyor interview on [DATE] at approximately 2:30 PM with the Administrator, he indicated that the facility is in need of a better system to keep track of their employees' licenses. Furthermore, he acknowledged the above mentioned staff members did not hold active NA licenses, including Staff C who assisted the resident during the incident. Additionally, he could not provide evidence that the facility was administered in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently t attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident."
Administration Deficiency — F0835
Failure to: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiency — F0728
Failure to: Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiency — F0658
Failure to: Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiency — F0689
Failure to: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
In previous years, Grace Barker was fined in December of 2022 $3,250 and, in May of 2021, hit with a penalty of $5,938.
CMS Data Compiled by Pro Publica.
Political Donations Flowing
While the nursing home has come under scrutiny, a GoLocal investigation found that officers of the company have continued to make donations to top Rhode Island politicians, including Governor Dan McKee and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.