HOUSTON — A certified nursing assistant charged with aggravated sexual assault of an elderly person appeared in court overnight.
Mark Countryman, 59, was in court before a judge around 2 a.m. Thursday. He was the last person to be seen so that the courtroom would be clear to ensure his safety, the judge said.
Countryman is accused of sexually assaulting a partially paralyzed patient at Lawrence Street Health Care Center, an assisted living facility in Tomball.
The alleged assault happened as the suspect helped wash the patient in the shower on January 17, according to a detective with the Tomball Police Department.
The woman told police Countryman tried to kiss her, but she moved away and at that point, she was assaulted.
The woman is paralyzed on her left side after suffering three strokes, the judge said in court on Thursday.
Countryman was mostly silent during the court appearance, only replying "yes sir" to the judge's questions.
A court-appointed attorney said Countryman is an Air Force veteran and has a 9-year-old son.
Countryman's bond was set at $50,000.
Lawrence Street Health Care said they do background checks on every employee.
Tomball police are asking for any other possible victims to come forward as the investigation continues.
"The investigation is still ongoing. We want to make sure there's not a victim left out there or any rock unturned." said a detective on the case.
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