Rape suspect to appear at preliminary hearing May 7
4/30/2014
Buck.
A A $75,000 bond was continued today in Sylvania Municipal Court for a Toledo man suspected in an alleged hospital rape at ProMedica Flower Hospital.
Jesse Lee Buck, 33, was arrested Monday, charged with first-degree felony rape, and booked into the Lucas County jail, police said. Bond was set at his first appearance Tuesday at $75,000, and that bond was continued. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on May 7.
Mr. Buck had asked for leniency during the hearing Tuesday, saying he had been going through a drug and alcohol-abuse treatment program and had “not been in any trouble.”
He is accused in the case by a Flower Hospital patient who reported being raped April 1 at the hospital by another patient. A 21-year-old Toledo woman told Sylvania police she was forced to engage in sexual activity in a hospital bathroom that morning.
Sylvania police Chief William Rhodus said a hospital employee called police about the attack the next day. No weapon was used.
Tedra White, a ProMedica spokesman, said both patients were lodged on the same floor at the time, but were separated after the attack was reported. Both were discharged from the hospital April 11, she said.
“ProMedica Flower Hospital is sorry and understands that this is a difficult time for this individual. Our thoughts are with her and her family. We are cooperating fully with the Sylvania Police investigation,” according to a ProMedica statement released Tuesday.
Flower’s access to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement is currently in jeopardy because of an undisclosed incident in the hospital’s psychiatric unit. Hospital and federal officials have declined to describe what spurred the investigation and refused to say whether the alleged rape is a factor.
Contact Mike Sigov at: sigov@theblade.com, 419-724-6089, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.