Brown County

District Court

• Charges of gross misdemeanor disorderly conduct involving a caregiver against a vulnerable adult, and two misdemeanor indecent exposure charges were filed Tuesday against Vernard T. Nowlin, 49, Wilkinsburg, Pa. Bail without conditions was set at $6,000 Wednesday. A court hearing was set for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 19.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police responded to an call at Oak Hills Living Center, 1314 8th St. N., New Ulm at 7:24 p.m. Oct. 3. An employee told police a resident reported being raped by a nursing assistant, identified as Nowlin.

The employee said she entered the alleged victim’s room about 7:30 p.m. just after Nowlin finished getting the resident ready for bed and said the resident was emotional. The resident said Nowlin had been on top of them and tried to rape the resident, who does not have dementia or memory loss problems but has Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, the employee said about 10 other residents have complained about Nowlin recently, including complaints that he was “too rough.” One resident said she felt “too exposed” when Nowlin was getting the resident ready for bed.

The employee described Nowlin’s behavior as strange, including his urinating in a bathtub with the door open recently.

At police request, staff moved the resident to a conference room to talk to an investigator. Nowlin said he began working at Oak Hills about two weeks ago and he is a traveling nurse’s assistant, that he last lived in Illinois and had lived in Pennsylvania.

An investigator met with the employee and resident who said Nowlin came to change the victim and put them to bed at about 7 p.m. The resident said Nowlin changed and dressed them, then felt him jump into bed with the resident.

The resident denied being touched or penetrated by Nowlin in a sexual nature.