Police Arrest Man Accused Of Molesting Mental Patients

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- A staff member at a Pinellas Park mental health facility was arrested Thursday after being accused of molesting and sexually battering patients.

Pinellas Park Police arrested 34-year-old Nicholai Brief after police received a complaint that multiple sexual battery incidents had taken place at Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services, 11254 58th St. N. in Pinellas Park.

Police say the report came from a staff member. When police began investigating, they found three patients who had been sexually molested.

According to police, Brief grabbed the breasts of one patient while she was sleeping. When she awoke, he said, "You're not going to tell anyone, are you?"

Brief is also accused of sexually battering another patient during the intake process. Police said he pushed her into a dark room against a wall and put his hand under her dress.

Police say he later contacted the victims through Facebook and shared explicit photos with them.

Brief was arrested at his home in St. Petersburg and charged with one count of sexual battery and three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation committed upon and in the presence of an elderly or disabled person. Brief's bond is set at $65,000.

Due to the mental state of the patients, police said the State Attorney's Office may increase the charges against Brief.

Police are now asking patients at the facility to come forward if they believe they were a victim. Call (727) 369-7864.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)