An individual trusted to provide spiritual counsel to the vulnerable has been charged with one of society’s more contemptible crimes. In a disheartening revelation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced on their Facebook page the arrest of Arthur Apgar, a hospice chaplain from Placer County, on allegations of sexually assaulting an elderly woman under his care. Apgar, who provided pastoral care at a yet unidentified care facility, now faces multiple counts of sexual battery against a person who is seriously disabled or medically incapacitated. This case brings to the fore a disturbing breach of trust, one that preys on those in their most fragile hour.

It was on August 8, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office informed the public of Apgar's arrest, which followed a thorough investigation by the Office's Sexual and Elder Abuse Bureau. After being booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail, Apgar was able to post bail and is set to appear in court on August 12. In a troubling twist to the tale, detectives have indicated that due to Apgar’s role, he may have had access to numerous other potential victims, a possibility which significantly widens the scope of these already serious allegations.

With the case now under active investigation, authorities are urging the community to come forward with any pertinent information that may assist in their pursuit of justice. Detectives are calling on anyone with potentially relevant knowledge, including potential victims or their family members, to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Sexual and Elder Abuse Bureau directly. The public can also provide tips anonymously through the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers, where information leading to an arrest may be rewarded with up to $1000 in cash. This outreach underscores an all-too-necessary collaboration between the public and law enforcement in addressing crimes against a group as defenseless as the elderly in hospice care.

As news of Apgar’s arrest disseminates, the community’s response embodies a collective grappling with not only the violation of the dignity and safety of a senior citizen but also the potential exploitation of the implicit trust placed in a caregiver of Apgar’s station. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has taken care to provide the community with a range of avenues to report any information via phone, the “P3 TIPS” app, and online platforms. Their efforts underscore an understanding that in such cases, the courage of witnesses and survivors coming forth often shapes the pursuit of truth, and with it, the hope for restoration.