Thursday, March 28, 2024

VicPD arrest senior care facility worker in alleged string of sexual assaults

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A staff member at a residential care facility has been arrested and charged with several counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

According to Victoria Police, 39-year-old Amado Ceniza was a Health Care Aide at a residential care facility located in the 1400-block of Hillside Avenue, when he allegedly committed the offences.

Ceniza has been charged with four counts of sexual assault as well as four counts of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.

Detectives with the Investigative Services Division’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) have thus far identified three victims, but have reason to believe that there may be others.

Further details

When other staff members were made aware of the assaults, they immediately contacted police, and Ceniza was suspended.

Since the allegations were made, he has not had any contact with patients thanks to the staff at the facility, Island Health, Ministry of Health, and SVU investigators.

Online reports from CTV News suggest that the incident took place at the Aberdeen Hospital on Hillside Avenue.

Ceniza has already appeared before a Judicial Justice of the Peace and was released on bail with the following conditions:

  • no contact or communications with the alleged victims,
  • he is not to be within a 200 meter radius of the Hillside Avenue facility,
  • he is not to be alone in the presence of anyone in a vulnerable population, including the elderly, anyone under the age of 18 year, or anyone who is physically or mentally disabled,
  • he must not work, volunteer, or engage in any activity in a care aide or nursing capacity, or in any position of trust involving anyone in a vulnerable population, including the elderly anyone under the age of 18 year, or anyone who is physically or mentally disabled,
  • he must not be in any care facility or home for a vulnerable population, including the elderly, anyone under the age of 18 years or anyone who is physically or mentally disabled,
  • to report to a bail supervisor and advise of changes of employment or residence

If you know something, say something

At this time, police are asking any other victims of assault to call Victoria Police’s non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654.

Sexual assault or exploitation can also be reported to a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider, at an emergency room, or through the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre by calling (250) 383-3232 or through the Men’s Trauma Centre by calling (250) 381-6367

Officers also want any and all witnesses to inappropriate interactions between Amado Ceniza and patients to come forward by calling the VicPD detective tip line at 250-995-7444.

Ceniza’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 1st, 2018.

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Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

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