A nurse at Wellstar MCG Health remained in jail Saturday after his arrest for allegedly groping a 15-year-old boy during a hospital visit this month.
Al Vincent Rute Tumasis, 37, of Augusta, was arrested Wednesday for child molestation – non-aggravated.
The victim, a resident of North Augusta, called 911 from the hospital on June 7, telling responding officers that the male nurse had fondled his groin area after inappropriate questions about his genitalia. The nurse was checking the teen’s oxygen levels and started making small talk, according to Richmond County authorities.
When the teen disclosed that he worked out at the gym, the nurse asked to see his biceps and grabbed his arm to see the size. He then asked the boy how big his chest was and pulled up the victim’s shirt before touching his chest and nipples.
The conversation then turned to the teen’s size and how big he was, which the boy figured was in reference to his genitalia. The victim told officers that he began feeling uncomfortable, especially when Tumasis asked if he was cut or uncut. The suspect allegedly asked to see and fondled the victim’s groin.
The teen took a step back, and Tumasis tried to rectify the situation by giving him a fist bump. Meanwhile, the teen contacted his brother, who told him to record the nurse. When Tumasis noticed the phone’s camera light, he apologized and offered the boy money. The victim said he told the nurse to leave the room or he was going to assault him.
When the nurse left, the boy called 911. After hearing the victim’s story, officers talked to Tumasis, who admitted knowing the patient was a minor. He said he thought the boy was really friendly and didn’t intend to touch the child inappropriately. Tumasis said he was joking, according to authorities. He described himself as a touchy person, something that was normal in his culture.
A warrant was later taken out against Tumasis and he was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. He remained at the jail without bond on Saturday.
Matthew O’Connor, Wellstar MCG Health External Communications Executive Director, released this statement Saturday: “This goes against everything we stand for as care givers. Everyone should feel safe and protected when they receive care. We are fully cooperating with the investigating authorities and the person in question is not employed by Wellstar.”
