Hospital Worker Charged With Sex Assault Of Patient

NEW YORK (AP) -- An X-ray technician has been charged with molesting a patient at a New York City hospital.

Sylvester Chase was arraigned Monday on a sexual abuse charge. His lawyer calls the allegations baseless.

A court complaint says the woman reported she'd been abused while asleep during an X-ray Sunday at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. Chase was charged under a state law against sexual contact with someone who's "physically helpless.''

Defense lawyer John Russo said the X-ray was administered in a busy radiology area. He questioned the reliability of the woman's account of events that allegedly transpired while she slept.

Manhattan prosecutors declined to comment on their evidence in the case.

The 41-year-old Chase has been suspended from his job.

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