Man charged with felony battery after allegedly grabbing nurse by the genitals
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IDAHO FALLS — A 61-year-old Ammon man has been charged with felony battery after allegedly touching a nurse inappropriately while he was trying to perform his duties.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, around 2 a.m., a deputy was dispatched to Idaho Falls Community Hospital for a battery report.
The deputy was told that Darryl Mathews, a patient, grabbed a male nurse by the genitals. Court documents don’t show why Mathews was in the hospital.
The nurse reported to the deputy that Mathews had first attempted to pull up the shirt of a female nurse. Then, while the male nurse was providing medical care to Mathews, the patient reached down and grabbed the nurse by his genitals.
The event was witnessed by hospital security, and Mathews was detained.
Mathews was charged with felony battery against healthcare workers. The charge is punishable by up to three years in prison, a $50,000 fine, and restitution.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 28 at 1 p.m. at the Bonneville County courthouse.
Though Mathews has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.