OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state prosecutors have accused a nurse of sexual misconduct against two older female patients at a health care center in Lacey.
Donald R. Gifford, 58, appeared in court Monday after being arrested Saturday and charged with two counts of felony indecent liberties at Roo Lan Health Care, The Olympian reports.
Bail was set at $40,000 and an arraignment hearing was set for Jan. 21.
Gifford has said he does not want to be released from custody pending further court dates, authorities said. It is not clear whether he is represented by an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
The health care center owner told authorities Gifford reportedly looked at pornography during his shift before examining the bodies of his patients, Lacey Police Department officials said.
Gifford was hired from another agency to work at the center as a night shift supervisor nurse, health care center executives said.
Gifford was ordered not to work in the healthcare field and not have contact with the two patients, ages 88 and 90, officials said.
Court records show Gifford has no known prior criminal convictions.
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