A licensed practical nurse at Erie County Medical Center has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a person with special needs in his care.
The New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs announced that 23-year-old Jordan Donalson of Clarence Center pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of forcible touching. As part of his plea deal, he has waived his right to challenge any Justice Center decision that may bar him from working with vulnerable people in New York in the future.
Donalson had been placed on administrative leave by ECMC during the course of the investigation. The state Education Department suspended his LPN license pending the outcome of the criminal case.
“With the victim’s consent, the Justice Center recommended this plea to spare the victim the rigors of a trial,” said Justice Center Special Prosecutor Patricia Gunning, noting that the victim was receiving residential patient care at ECMC.
“Striking a balance between holding defendants accountable for their crimes and respecting the desires of the victim is at the core of our work. Here, we were able to do both,” she said.
Sex crimes under the state penal law include sexual contact of any kind between an employee and a patient when the employee has reason to know their patient is placed at a facility licensed or certified by the state Office of Substance Abuse Services.
Donalson will be sentenced December 21 and faces up to two years in jail or six years probation.
