MIDVALE, Utah, Oct. 15, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake City man has been charged on suspicion of sexually assaulting a patient at a Midvale psychiatric treatment center.
Benito Silva, 27 is charged in the June 14 incident on suspicion of rape, a first-degree felony; and lewdness, a class B misdemeanor.
Initial charges were filed Monday.
A probable cause statement says that a Unified Police officer was called to the scene, at Highland Ridge Hospital, 7309 S. 180 West, Midvale, and interviewed an employee who said “a sexual assault had recently occurred in the facility.”
“(He) informed officers that the suspect, Benito Silva, admitted sexually assaulting a young female patient at the facility.”
Another employee interviewed by police told officers that earlier that evening, she was called to the room of an 18-year-old female patient because Silva was naked and taking a shower in the patient’s bathroom, the probable cause statement says. Silva was removed by staff members, the statement says.
“Later, she (the victim) was in bed, when she heard a creaking noise and footsteps,” the statement says. “When she opened her eyes, she observed Silva in her room, his pants were off and laying on the ground.”
The probable statement says Silva forced the victim onto her back and began to choke her. When she told him to stop, he covered her mouth and assaulted her, the probable cause statement says.
Silva was not yet in custody as of Tuesday at noon. A proposed warrant for his arrest says his bail will be set at $75,000.
