Nurse suspected of raping, impregnating incapacitated patient indicted on sexual assault, abuse charges

The nurse arrested last week following a rape investigation at an Arizona nursing facility has been indicted on multiple charges.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Nathan Sutherland was arrested on January 23 after investigators matched his DNA sample to the infant born to a patient at Hacienda HealthCare in late December. Staff attending to the 29-year-old patient at the time reportedly had no idea she was pregnant until she went into labor on December 29.

The Associated Press reports that Sutherland, 36, was indicted Thursday on charges of abuse of a vulnerable adult and sexual assault. Sutherland was fired from Hacienda HealthCare immediately after his arrest.

Sutherland was reportedly a primary caregiver to the patient at the time she became pregnant. The victim had reportedly been at Hacienda HealthCare since she was a toddler, and is severely disabled. The infant is being cared for by her family.

Sutherland is expected to enter a plea at a hearing on Tuesday.