A former patient of a Southport convalescent home is accused of sexually assaulting a 75-year-old woman also living at the facility, police say.

Elias Saldana, 57, was arrested and is facing multiple charges including second degree sexual assault, second degree reckless endangerment, fourth degree sexual assault, and second degree burglary.

Saldana is accused of sneaking into the 75-year-old non-verbal woman's room at Regal Care of Southport and sexually assaulting her.

Police say staff members reported that Saldana was observed exiting the woman's room. Upon further inspection of the patient, an employee discovered the woman's adult diaper had been opened.

 

Police say family members of the woman reported multiple previous incidents where Saldana had accessed the room specifically against the family's wishes. Police say staff at the home had also put a safety plan in place to prevent Saldana from entering the woman's room. 

Police say Saldana has a long criminal history, and numerous convictions out of New York including felony DWI, criminal impersonation, criminal trespass and more.

They say Saldana was a patient at the facility since July 2017 and had a history of alcohol abuse. Saldana was undergoing physical therapy after being hit by a car.

Police say Regal Care has a policy where male patients are not permitted to enter female patients' rooms.

However, Saldana told detectives he would often go into the victim's room to kiss her on the head and face but denied inappropriately touching her.

Regal Care of Southport declined to comment on the incident. 

Saldana is being held on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Tuesday.