Haverford man accused of molesting teen at hospital
NORRISTOWN »
A Delaware County man who worked as an aide at Bryn Mawr Hospital is accused of having sexual contact with a teenage female patient while she was in his care at the hospital.
Kaseef Nshe Festus, 30, of the 1200 block of Roosevelt Drive, Haverford Township, was arraigned before District Court Judge Michael P. Quinn on charges of institutional sexual assault of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor in connection with an alleged May
7 incident involving a 16-yearold girl at the hospital located in Lower Merion.
Festus was released on $10,000 unsecured bail to await his July 2 preliminary hearing on the charges before District Court Judge Henry Schireson in Narberth.
With the charges, Montgomery County detectives alleged Festus had sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl while she was being treated in the emergency room at Bryn Mawr Hospital between May 6 and May 8. The alleged contact occurred as the girl stayed in the emergency room while the girl’s family and hospital staff were attempting to locate a proper placement and treatment facility for the girl, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Walter Kerr.
The girl was taken to the hospital on May 6 after her parents discovered a self-inflicted cut to the girl’s arms, according to court papers. The girl was released from the hospital on May 8 with outpatient treatment arranged.
While attending outpatient treatment on May 11, the girl disclosed that when she was at Bryn Mawr Hospital the previous week she had sexual contact with a hospital employee, who was subsequently identified as Festus. The girl told child social workers that during the overnight hours of May 7 to May 8, Festus, identified in court papers as a “patient safety associate,” was assigned to stay with her in her room, according to the arrest affidavit.
Detectives alleged Festus and the girl talked, held hands, kissed and then had sexual contact despite Festus initially telling the girl “that he could get into trouble for having sex with a patient and maybe they should wait until (the girl) was
18,” according to the criminal complaint.
When Festus was interviewed by detectives on May 22 he claimed that he and the girl began to have sexual contact but that he stopped because “I knew it was wrong and I told her I could get in trouble,” according to the arrest affidavit.
District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said anyone who has information regarding any inappropriate encounters with the defendant is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at
610-278-3368.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gabriella T. Soreth, who is assigned to the district attorney’s Family Protection Unit.