American Medical Response (AMR) paramedic Miguel Ontiveros is being charged with the horrific sexual assault of two elderly women during their transport to the hospital, potentially facing life in prison if convicted according to the Bay Area News Group. AMR is now facing lawsuits on behalf of the victims who have come forward shedding light on a troubling pattern of abuse.

As reported by Henry K. Lee on Twitter, the first incident involved a 76-year-old woman who was being transported to the hospital for treatment after a fall. Ontiveros, a 35-year-old former AMR paramedic since terminated by the company, is accused of sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while his partner drove to the hospital. His partner did not witness the assault but noticed Ontiveros pulling up his pants upon arrival at the hospital and reported the suspicion to their supervisor, leading to DNA testing which linked Ontiveros to the crime.

Ontiveros is also charged with forcibly orally copulating an 80-year-old woman during transport on May 21 of last year . 

In response to the initial charges, AMR placed Ontiveros on unpaid administrative leave and later fired him, stating their full cooperation with law enforcement in a statement provided to KTVU per Bay Area News Group. Ontiveros is currently being held at the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on $3 million bail, and the legal proceedings have caused his wife to file for divorce.

Victims and their families are seeking justice through the legal system, with lawsuits filed by CP&M, LLP on behalf of the victims (Henry K. Lee, Twitter). The allegations against Ontiveros have understandably rocked the community, sparking outrage and heartbreak as the public grapples with the reality of these heinous acts allegedly perpetrated by someone in whom they placed their trust.