A 30-year-old Richmondville man who worked overnight as a nurse's aide in Bassett Medical Center's inpatient psychiatric unit has been convicted of sexually assaulting a patient who was unable to consent. An Otsego County jury reached its verdict against Tasheem I. Hoyt-Capirci after just 15 minutes of deliberation, following a three-day trial.
According to WKTV, the jury found Hoyt-Capirci guilty of sexual contact with a psychiatric patient unable to consent, a charge tied to an incident the Otsego County District Attorney's Office says occurred on or about September 2, 2025. He faces up to four years in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender once sentenced.
Eight Witnesses, DNA Evidence Presented at Trial
Eight witnesses testified during the trial, the station's report notes, and a forensic scientist from the New York State Police crime laboratory testified that DNA evidence matched Hoyt-Capirci. Jurors also reviewed DNA reports, photographs and a diagram of the hospital unit, and listened to an interview, per the same account.
Hoyt-Capirci is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21. Bassett Medical Center's inpatient psychiatry unit, where he worked overnight, provides psychiatric assessment, evaluation and treatment to adults age 18 and older who require acute-care hospitalization, according to Bassett Healthcare Network.
Multiple Agencies Involved in Investigation
The guilty verdict followed a joint investigation by the Cooperstown village police department, the Otsego County District Attorney's Office, the New York State Justice Center, Bassett Medical Center's security and legal affairs teams, and the Otsego County Sheriff's Department, the outlet reported.
Under New York law, a person can be deemed incapable of consent for a number of reasons, including being mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, according to New York Penal Law § 130.05. A related statute, Penal Law § 130.30, addresses rape in the second degree, which includes sexual contact with a person incapable of consent due to mental disability or mental incapacitation.
Hoyt-Capirci's sentencing in Otsego County is set for December 21, when the court will determine what portion of the four-year maximum he will serve.
