A 22-year-old Evanston man who worked as a laundry aide at a local assisted living facility has been charged after prosecutors said he sexually abused a resident with physical and intellectual disabilities. Oscar Leon-Patino faces multiple felony counts and is being held in custody. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, prosecutors charged Leon-Patino with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, two counts of criminal sexual abuse and one count of aggravated battery in Cook County Circuit Court. The outlet reports that the most serious charges carry potential prison terms of up to seven years.
Patch reported that Leon-Patino had been employed at the facility as a laundry aide, and that the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit took over the prosecution following a referral from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Local reports say Evanston police are assisting investigators.
What officials said
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul called the conduct alleged in the complaint "egregious for anyone to prey on an individual with a disability." Evanston Police Chief Schenita Stewart said, "Our priority is ensuring victims are treated with compassion, dignity and professionalism" as authorities pursue the case, according to Patch.
How to report and what families should know
The Illinois Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates suspected patient abuse and neglect in Medicaid-funded facilities and operates both a tip line and an online complaint form. The helpline is 866-748-2297. To file a complaint or submit a tip, visit the Illinois Attorney General.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also accepts complaints about licensed facilities through its Central Complaint Registry. Families and staff can call its 24/7 hotline at 800-252-4343, and additional guidance on how to file a report is available on the department’s website.
What happens next
The case is being prosecuted in Cook County by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Leon-Patino remains in custody as the court process moves forward, according to FOX 32 Chicago. As in all criminal cases, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
