technician

Plea Deal for Tech Accused of Grabbing Patient's Genitals

An emergency room technician accused of fondling a patient’s genitals while the man was sedated accepted a plea deal in court Tuesday to one count of misdemeanor battery.

The crime by ER technician, Rene Martinez, 53, was recorded on the patient’s cell phone. The patient was under sedation and being treated for back pain. Police said Martinez grabbed the patient’s genitals, left the room, came back in and did it again.

The victim said in a lawsuit that the technician was saying that the patient could make money from a friend of his by showing him his “private parts.”

"He admitted no wrongdoing as to any kind of sexual respect," said Martinez's attorney Sabino Jauregui. "He entered a no contest plea to just misdemeanor battery and that's the end of this case."

Martinez said nothing as he left the courtroom.

A lawsuit by the victim was filed against Palm Springs Hospital where the incident took place. The hospital previously said they had no comment to make about the case.

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