Former Nurse Accused Of Secretly Recording Patients At Pennsylvania Hospital, Sexually Assaulting Unconscious Woman In ER
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS/AP) — Authorities filed hundreds of charges against a former nurse Wednesday, alleging he secretly recorded patients at the Pennsylvania hospital where he worked and that he sexually assaulted an unconscious woman in the emergency room. State prosecutors accused Michael David Bragg, 39, of Chambersburg, with manufacturing child pornography, indecent assault and other crimes.
Investigators said they found on Bragg's computers and phone nude or partially nude images of nearly 200 adults and 19 children. Fifty of the victims that were photographed at UPMC Carlisle, the hospital where he worked, have been identified by police.
"People who were rushed to the emergency room or needed serious medical attention were violated by this man," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. "This sick sexual predator took advantage of patients when they were at their most vulnerable, in need of care. Thanks to the full cooperation of UPMC Carlisle, we identified all victims throughout this investigation."
Bragg is in the Franklin County Jail. A message seeking comment was left late Wednesday for a lawyer who has recently represented him. Bragg was expected to be arraigned on Thursday.
Bragg was arrested on child pornography and indecent assault charges in April and immediately fired from the hospital, according to a UMPC statement. The hospital said he had passed all background checks.
In an April search of his home, agents said they found secretly recorded videos of children using his bathroom and other child pornography videos. He was also accused at that time of sexually abusing two minors. Trial was recently pushed back until March.
UPMC Carlisle has offered assistance and counseling to victims and their families, and brought in a security firm to sweep the facility for hidden electronics, the statement said. None was found.
Prosecutors say Bragg assaulted a naked and unconscious woman in the emergency room and groped another victim there.
"This was a complex, technical investigation which led to these charges being filed. But in the end, it was a simple case of standing up for victims," Shapiro said.
State prosecutors asked patients at UPMC Carlisle's emergency room between January 2016 and April 2019 who think they were treated by Bragg to call the state's child predator hotline, 800-385-1044.
Ben Andreozzi, a Harrisburg lawyer, said he represents about a dozen women and girls, the youngest about 13, who have claims they were victimized by Bragg.
Andreozzi said some were directed to strip for treatment that does not require it. He said a recording device was hidden in examination rooms.
"I've noticed it's been particularly difficult for some of the younger women, meaning the teenage girls, who feel exposed and humiliated by what's happened," Andreozzi said.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
