A bedridden woman was sexually assaulted at a Connecticut nursing home. Police say a fellow patient did it

Jan. 28--A man who police said sexually assaulted a bedridden, non-verbal fellow patient in a Fairfield convalescent home is scheduled to face a judge next month.

Elias Saldana, 58, a former patient of the RegalCare at Southport, was arrested last week and charged with second-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault, second-degree burglary and second-degree reckless endangerment, police said Monday.

According to police, on Jan. 21, an employee saw Saldana leave the room of a 75-year-old female patient who cannot talk or walk. The worker found the woman's diaper open, immediately called police and Saldana was arrested.

During the police investigation, family members said there were previous incidents during which Saldana got into the woman's room "specifically against the family's wishes," police said. They said the nursing home assured the family that a "safety plan was in place to prevent Saldana's access to the victim."

Saldana is in custody at a hospital on $100,000 bail, according to the state Department of Correction.

He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Bridgeport on Feb. 21, court records show.

Christine Dempsey can be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.

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