Monterey nursing home employee arrested for sexually battering patient
MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) UPDATE 3/2/2020 4:19 p.m. A Monterey nursing home employee is under arrest for sexual battery and elder abuse against a female patient.
Monterey PD arrested 38-year-old Kelven Ferolino, a nurse assistant, Saturday night after another employee reported the alleged abuse at Cypress Ridge Care Center on Skyline Drive.
Cypress Ridge Administrator Ryan McCormack told KION the employee is not currently working at the care center pending the abuse allegation investigations.
Some Monterey neighbors are concerned for elder care after the allegations surfaced.
“My grandmother is in a facility in Monterey here as well and so it concerns me greatly whether the facilities that our loved ones are in are diligent and careful,” Monterey resident Aaron Eden said.
Ferolino faces charges including sexual battery, or touching an intimate part of another person without their consent, and elder abuse.
Police now believe there is potential for more victims.
“There’s multiple patients, obviously, at the care facility. At this time, we have not identified any other victims but the detectives are still continuing their investigation,” Lt. Jake Pinkas with Monterey PD said.
Police said the care facility is cooperating with the investigation.
In a statement to KION News, Cypress Ridge says it takes all matters regarding employee conduct and patient safety seriously.
“The allegations made against this former team member do not reflect the values we hold at our facility. Our priority remains to provide the highest level of care for the patient and their families," McCormack wrote.
The care center would not comment further on the matter while the investigation continues.
Ferolino's bail was set at $30,000.
From here, detectives are interviewing other patients and employees about the allegations. Through the investigation, they hope to find out if there were any other victims.
UPDATE 3/2/2020 11:00 a.m. A Cypress Ridge Care Center employee and Gonzales resident, 38-year-old Kelven Ferolino, was arrested Saturday night after a report of sexual battery against a patient. He is a nurse assistant at the facility.
Ferolino was arrested on charges related to sexual battery and elder abuse. He was taken to the Monterey County Jail, and his bail is set at $30,000
Detectives believe there could be more potential victims. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Delgado at 831-646-3814 or the confidential tip line at 831-646-3840.
KION’s Elisha Machado will have a live report with more details on the investigation and how the care facility is responding to the incident on KION News Channel 5/46 at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
PREVIOUS STORY: Monterey Police Department officials tell KION, an investigation is ongoing into an incident of sexual battery at a nursing home.
On Sunday, officers responded to the Cypress Ridge Care Center on Skyline Drive.
Cypress Ridge employee Kevin Ponce Ferolino was arrested on charges related to sexual battery of a medically institutionalized person and harming an elder or dependent adult.
At this time, police cannot release many details as they continue the investigation.
Ferolino is in the process of being booked at the Monterey County Jail.
KION has reached out to the care center for comment, but have not yet heard back.
This is a developing story. Check for updates.
