In-home nurse Jermaine Cheatham was arrested Monday after he was allegedly found raping a 9-year-old girl.
Cheatham, 45, was charged with sexual battery on a minor and false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13. He is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the Miami-Dade police report, Cheatham was hired by the victim’s mother to care for the victim and her 3-year-old sister, who is a special needs patient and requires round-the-clock care.
The 9-year-old victim was reportedly watching a movie and fell asleep in the living room. Cheatham walked into the room, took off her pants, covered her mouth with one hand and then raped her, the report indicates.
The victim’s 11-year-old brother was in his room when he heard “loud thumping sounds.” When he came out to see what was going on, he reportedly saw Cheatham naked and holding a bottle of lubricant while his sister was laying half-naked. The brother yelled at Cheatham and asked what he was doing to his sister.
Cheatham reportedly pulled the boy into the bedroom of his youngest sister, who was asleep at the time, according to the report. He begged the boy not to tell anyone about what he saw and tried to convince him that he didn’t do anything to hurt his sister.
When the 11-year-old tried to leave to tell his mother, Cheatham allegedly blocked the door and didn’t let him leave, investigators said. It is unclear who called the police.
After his arrest, Cheatham denied doing anything to the 9-year-old girl.
Sexual battery incidents involving medical professionals and patients aren’t uncommon in South Florida. Just six weeks ago, a mental health technician at Mount Sinai Medical Center was arrested and charged with sexual battery after he molested a patient.
Christian Vidal, 42, of Miami is accused of kissing the victim’s breast and then licking his fingers before touching her vagina. The victim reported the alleged incident immediately after it happened. She was taken to a rape treatment center where rape kit evidence was collected.
When questioned by investigators, Vidal denied the allegations and said he went to the victim’s room to give her the TV remote. He reportedly consented to providing a DNA sample. The sample he provided matched the evidence collected from the victim, and that led to Vidal’s arrest on May 22.
The victim’s identity has been withheld due to the nature of the crime. It is unclear if she will take legal action against Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Sexual battery is one of the most aggressively prosecuted crimes in Florida and it has harsh penalties. The penalties of a conviction are determined by the age of the victim, the age of the offender, or the presence of aggravating circumstances.
Miami-Dade Sexual Battery Attorney
If you are involved in a sexual battery case, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Miami-Dade’s most experienced sexual battery attorneys.
Source: 7.30.19 South florida special needs nurse accused of sexually assaulting minor.pdf