Nurse Accused Of Sexually Battering Mentally Ill Patient

PINELLAS PARK, FL — A 63-year-old man has been accused of sexual battery of a mentally defective person at a Pinellas Park residential care center.

According to the Pinellas Park police, while William Ira Cease of Clearwater was working his scheduled shift at the Care Center of Pinellas Park, 8701 49th St. N., on Dec. 13, an employee of the center discovered him in the bed of a 69-year-old patient.

The employee said Cease was in a state of undress and was inappropriately touching the victim, a vulnerable adult.

Staff intervened and called police. When police arrived, Cease fled the center.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and found him at his home on Thursday where they took him into custody and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Police said the Care Center of Pinellas Park has cooperated with detectives throughout the investigation. Cease has been employed at center as a licensed practical nurse since April 2019.