A convicted Megan's Law offender has been indicted in the sexual assault of an elderly dementia patient at a Vineland hospital.
Thomas Pierson, 58, was picking up a friend at Inspira Health on Dec. 20, when he walked into the room of the 83-year-old patient who was lying naked in her bed and assaulted her, according to the affidavit.
The victim's room was on constant video monitoring, and the nurse monitoring the room saw the man walk in and saw him use his hand to assault the woman, the document states.
"The nurse/witness called the nurse in charge of the victim's room and advised him of the circumstances," the affidavit reads. "The nurse in charge immediately rushed to the room and as he approached the door, the male was walking out."
He was held until police arrived.
Pierson did not give a statement to police.
"We are grateful that our nurse was able to intervene on our patient’s behalf, and involved law enforcement immediately," Inspira spokesman Paul B. Simon told BreakingAC. "The safety of our patients is the top priority at Inspira Health."
Pierson was arrested in 2002 in the sexual assault of a juvenile out of Camden County, court records show. He pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge and was sentenced to two years' probation.
The Sicklerville man is listed as a Tier 3 offender — the highest risk — in the Megan's Law registry.
Pierson previously served nearly two years' prison time for a 1986 robbery, state Department of Corrections records show. He was also sentenced in a kidnapping, and went to prison from Oct. 20, 1995 to Dec. 23, 1999. His time served was completed April 27, 2001.
He was indicted last week on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault and criminal sexual contact.
Pierson is being held in the Cumberland County jail. He is due in court later this month.
