Nurse care tech who sexually assaulted patients at Ben Taub, Kingwood Medical Center sentenced Ernesto Pedraza sentenced to 15 years in prison No description found
HOUSTON – A former nurse care technician who was found guilty of sexually assaulting patients at Ben Taub Hospital and Kingwood Medical Center was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kin Ogg confirmed.
A jury found 53-year-old Ernesto Pedraza guilty on one felony charge of sexual assault.
Pedraza worked as a nurse care tech from 2015 to 2016 at the hospitals to sexually assault male patients, Ogg said. Patients reported that Pedraza performed sex acts on them without their consent as they drifted in and out of consciousness, Ogg said.
“We trust hospital staff to treat us in emergencies, not take advantage of our vulnerability,” said Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Kaufmann. “Pedraza broke that trust over and over, and a jury of his peers decided he was guilty.”
Both hospitals investigated the incidents and terminated Pedraza. The Houston Police Department also investigated..
Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
About the Author Brittany Taylor headshot
Award-winning journalist, mother, YouTuber, social media guru, millennial, mentor, storyteller, University of Houston alumna and Houston-native.
Fa la la la fog! Expect some foggy morning weather through Christmas ▶ 0:47
Fa la la la fog! Expect some foggy morning weather through Christmas
Woman dies in massive apartment fire on Houston's southwest side ▶ 1:16
Woman dies in massive apartment fire on Houston's southwest side
Man armed with knife fatally shot by Baytown police; mother of his children found dead in apartment ▶ 0:55
Man armed with knife fatally shot by Baytown police; mother of his children found dead in apartment
Top stories for December 19 ▶ 2:13
Top stories for December 19
Holiday travel hits a sweeter note as Southwest Airlines worker plays sax at Houston airport ▶ 2:03
Holiday travel hits a sweeter note as Southwest Airlines worker plays sax at Houston airport
Parents fight to save A-rated Sugar Mill Elementary as Fort Bend ISD weighs closures ▶ 0:51
Parents fight to save A-rated Sugar Mill Elementary as Fort Bend ISD weighs closures
Girlfriend identifies Andrew Meismer as victim in fatal stabbing at Baytown high school ▶ 0:53
Girlfriend identifies Andrew Meismer as victim in fatal stabbing at Baytown high school
Houston family says cemetery failed to deliver headstone for nearly three years ▶ 0:39
Houston family says cemetery failed to deliver headstone for nearly three years
Woman survives camel kick during Christmas performance at Houston-area church ▶ 0:54
Woman survives camel kick during Christmas performance at Houston-area church
Holiday travel forecast ▶ 0:41
Holiday travel forecast
Conroe judge disciplined for DUI during military ▶ 0:20
Conroe judge disciplined for DUI during military
Why there are two different days for the start of winter? ▶ 0:50
Why there are two different days for the start of winter?
Students at high school in Baytown gather to honor classmate who died in stabbing in classroom ▶ 1:17
Students at high school in Baytown gather to honor classmate who died in stabbing in classroom
3,500 cases of pertussis reported already this year! ▶ 1:16
3,500 cases of pertussis reported already this year!
Tops stories for Dec. 18 ▶ 1:43
Tops stories for Dec. 18
Camp Mystic works to regain parents trust as it plans to reopen ▶ 1:54
Camp Mystic works to regain parents trust as it plans to reopen
Rapid Fire with Tom Llamas in Houston 🔥 ▶ 2:33
Rapid Fire with Tom Llamas in Houston 🔥
New flood detection system going up at camps in Texas Hill Country ▶ 1:42
New flood detection system going up at camps in Texas Hill Country
Student dies after being stabbed with scissors during fight in classroom at Sterling High School ▶ 0:48
Student dies after being stabbed with scissors during fight in classroom at Sterling High School
Conroe judge told officers to ‘be aware that he is a judge’ during DWI stop ▶ 1:15
Conroe judge told officers to ‘be aware that he is a judge’ during DWI stop
Weak front on the way ▶ 1:03
Weak front on the way
Happy Wednesday! Clouds and showers expected throughout Houston today ▶ 0:49
Happy Wednesday! Clouds and showers expected throughout Houston today
Top stories for Dec. 17 ▶ 2:14
Top stories for Dec. 17
AirBnB shuts down Montrose ‘Grand House’ again after KPRC 2 gets involved ▶ 1:29
AirBnB shuts down Montrose ‘Grand House’ again after KPRC 2 gets involved
Petfinder change sparks concern from Houston-area rescues that rely on out-of-town adoptions ▶ 1:07
Petfinder change sparks concern from Houston-area rescues that rely on out-of-town adoptions
Previous photo Next photo