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Prosecutor: Ex-nursing home nurse had sexual contact with residents, child porn

BEAVERCREEK — Pristine Senior Living of Beavercreek sent a letter to their families informing them of the latest developments regarding former employee Steven Douglas McDowell, a 60-year-old licensed practical nurse who is facing sex charges involving residents at the senior care facility.

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  • A case of gross sexual imposition and pandering obscenity involving a minor was reported to police on July 17
  • Three Pristine Senior Living residents have been identified as possible victims
  • Families of the alleged victims have been notified

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UPDATE @ 1:59 p.m. (Aug. 4):

Bond was set at $250,000 during Steven McDowell's arraignment in Greene County Common Pleas Court Friday and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf by the court.

McDowell was appointed an attorney.

The 60-year-old man is expected in court on Aug. 15 for a pretrial hearing.

INITIAL REPORT:

McDowell has been indicted by a Greene County grand jury on 11 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material, one count of voyeurism and three counts of gross sexual imposition, according to the prosecutor’s office.

According to Pristine’s letter to their residents’ families that’s dated July 26, three Pristine residents are possible victims of McDowell’s alleged criminal activity.

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The victims

When McDowell’s arrest came to light in July, Pristine issued a statement indicating they were unaware of any of their residents being involved.

Initially, McDowell was arrested on suspicion of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material.

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“We have been told that the licensed nurse’s criminal activity involves three of our residents. In the initial stages of the investigation, involvement of our residents was inconclusive,” Pristine’s letter reads.

The families of the alleged victims were notified of the alleged incidents and the ongoing police investigation, according to the letter.

“The safety and well-being of residents and patients is our number one priority,” Pristine’s letter begins. “Our commitment to safety includes being transparent about the recent arrest of a license nurse who is no longer employed with our facility.”

McDowell is being held in the Green County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. He is expected to be arraigned this week in Greene County Common Pleas Court.

The charges

McDowell, 60, of Huber Heights, was indicted Aug. 1 on 11 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material, one count of voyeurism, and three counts of gross sexual imposition, according to the release.

“At the time of his arrest, the State alleges that [McDowell] had multiple images on his cell phone that contained visual depictions of prepubescent minors in a state of nudity,” Greene County Prosecutor Stephen Haller said in the release.

“The State further alleges that while employed at Pristine Senior Living in Beavercreek, Steven McDowell had sexual contact with two elderly impaired residents.”

McDowell is scheduled for arraignment later this week. He is currently housed in the Greene County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

The investigation

In July, Pristine Senior Living in Beavercreek reported it is conducting an internal investigation, and are cooperating with Beavercreek police in their investigation of sex offenses involving an employee.

“Yesterday, an issue came to our attention regarding one of our employees which caused us to contact law enforcement,” a spokesman for the nursing home said in an emailed release. “We are not aware of any of our residents being identified as victims of abuse.”

“The safety and well-being of our residents and patients is our number one priority.”

Pristine Senior Living added all employees are ‘carefully’ screened including background checks and provide ongoing training.

Beavercreek police declined to comment on the incident saying the investigation is still open.

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