MORGANTOWN — A man has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a female family member who is incapacitated.
Darrell Ray Lewis Sr., 63, of Nettie, Nicholas County, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse. He was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court Tuesday. Bond was set at $25,000 and has been posted.
First-degree sexual abuse is a felony punishable by one to five years in prison or a fine not more than $10,000 and one to five years in prison.
According to a criminal complaint:
The Morgantown Police Department received a report of sexual abuse from WVU Medicine Monday.
A nurse caring for a patient said she saw Lewis touching the victim’s breast in an inappropriate manner. The nurse said when Lewis noticed he was being watched, he immediately pulled his hand away.
The nurse also reported bruising on the victim’s right wrist and hand. The victim began screaming so medical personnel ran into the room and saw the victim had a bright red and purple face. Lewis was standing next to the victim pushing on the victim’s groin area, the nurse said. The nurse noticed the victim’s bed pad covered in urine, even though she had a catheter in place. When staff came into the room, Lewis ran to the bathroom to change clothes.
It is unclear if the two reports are separate incidents.
The victim suffers from cerebral palsy and requires total care, including nourishment through a feeding tube, the complaint states.
