Senior care driver accused of assaulting 88-year-old passenger with dementia – Boston News, Weather, Sports

CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) – A driver at a Charlestown adult day care center is accused of sexually assaulting an 88-year-old woman with dementia.

Edwin Lam, 66, of Medford, was charged in Chelsea District Court on Aug. 19 with eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 60/person with a disability. He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors said Lam regularly drove the victim to the Joyful Living adult health center as part of his job responsibilities. After noticing the victim crying, a relative looked at a home security video thinking something might be wrong. She called Chelsea police after watching the videos, which authorities said documented eight attacks on camera.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, the videos show Lam “touching the victim’s breasts and groin area.” They also show him “grabbing the victim’s hand and putting him on his feet.”

“We live in an era of widespread commercial and domestic video surveillance, which, when used judiciously and appropriately, can be a tremendous asset to investigators,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. “But even the best surveillance needs to be noticed and then brought to the attention of diligent investigators. Fortunately, both of these factors happened here. And it’s particularly fortunate because this is a case where the victim was unable to communicate what happened to her.”

Lam was held on $7,500 bail and ordered to stay away from the victim’s home and wear a GPS tracking device, among other conditions of his potential release.

He is expected back in court on October 17.

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