Central Florida chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting woman with dementia
According to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, in mid-November 2019, Altamonte Springs chiropractor, Kent Klonel, 58, was accused of trying to sexually assault a woman in her 80s. He was caught naked from the waist down in the room of the woman who suffers from dementia at the nursing home where she lives. Investigators said Klonel knew the woman and that she can’t speak or move on her own.
Deputies said when a nursing assistant went to check on the woman, the door to her room was closed when it should have been open. According to the affidavit, she went to open it and realized the door had been barricaded shut with a chair. When she finally got it open, she saw Klonel naked, with no pants, no underwear and his outer shirt unbuttoned. The victim was lying in her bed naked from the waist down with no diaper on.
Records show, the nursing assistant called for help after Klonel shut the door. When they opened the door again, Klonel was dressed except for his shirt. The victim was still naked with her knees bent up, according to authorities.
Investigators said Klonel made inconsistent statements following the incident, including that he barricaded the door because he was using the restroom and did not want anyone to walk in on him. He claimed the victim didn’t have pajama bottoms on but she was covered with a blanket.
According to the warrant, investigators believe Klonel was in the process of sexually battering the woman when he was interrupted by the staff of the assisted living facility.
In mid January 2020, Klonel was arrested on charges of attempted sexual battery and battery by touch or strike. He was given a $35,000 bond and ordered not to return to the nursing home and to wear a GPS monitor. He works at Klonel Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center in Altamonte Springs.
For most people the thought of having to live in a nursing home is a frightening one. Despite the trained experts and knowledgeable staff employed to support a loved one’s needs, it remains a nightmarish experience for various reasons. Safety and security are the top concerns for patients. When placing a loved one in the care of professionals, It is expected that employees at the facility are carefully vetted and safe. It is unacceptable for anyone to touch a patient with dementia who lacks the capacity to consent in a sexual manner.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against health care facilities on behalf of patients who were inappropriately touched at their facilities. A nursing home employee is never permitted to have sexual contact with a client. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery at a nursing home, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.