Fugitive Hospital Staffer Suspected Of Sexually Assaulting Patients Arrested In 11-Year Manhunt

TARZANA, CA — A hospital nursing assistant accused of sexually assaulting patients in Trazana has been arrested and extradited from Guatemala following an 11-year manhunt.

Ramon Gaspar, 48, was one of America's Most Wanted until he was found in South America and extradited on on June 26. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Gaspar was first arrested in 2006, after three former patients at Tarzana Hospital described being sexual assaulted by him post-surgery, some while still under the influence of anesthesia. After his arrest several more women came forward to say that they too had been assaulted by Gaspar.

Soon after his arrest, Gapsar skipped bail and disappeared with his wife and 6-year-old son, police allege.

The case was featured on the Fox Broadcasting series "America's Most Wanted," and investigators learned Gaspar had fled to Guatemala.

Gaspar was being held without bail at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles and was next due in court on Friday in Van Nuys, according to sheriff's inmate records.

Following Gaspar's initial arrest, the hospital was sold and is now known as Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center. In 2011, a jury awarded one of Gaspar's alleged victims a $65 million verdict in a negligence suit against the hospital. The $65 million in punitive damages phase was triggered after the jury found the hospital acted with malice.

The plaintiff in the case Courtney Rosenberg testified in 2011 that she had surgery at the hospital in April 2006 for removal of an ovarian cyst. She said Gaspar exhibited strange behavior by going in and out of her room several times, complimenting her on her appearance and making remarks like "Come to papa," she said.

However, Rosenberg said she was caught by surprise when the alleged assault occurred. Gaspar told her he wanted to check for any bleeding after her surgery even though her doctor told her some bleeding was normal, she said.

"It all happened so fast,'' Rosenberg said during the trial. "I felt his hand ... and I felt more pain ... he didn't have any gloves on.'' Gaspar stopped when he heard Rosenberg's mother coming into the room, she said.

RELATED: Jury Awards $65 Million in Punitive Damages to Woman in Encino-Tarzana Medical Center Sex-Harassment Suit

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: LAPD