The jury acquitted the 78-year-old retired farmer and former state legislator of sex-abuse charge in a case that captured international attention.
To read my prior post regarding and including a background of this case, click here.
Prosecutors had contended he was guilty of the felony because he had sexual contact with his wife after nursing-home staff members told him her Alzheimer's disease had stolen her ability to consent. The case raised wide-ranging questions regarding the law, and relationships between persons where one suffers from dementia. The defendant's attorney, in fact, warned that conviction might cause partners to avoid visitations in order to avoid potential criminal culpability.
Regardless the outcome, the case has led to a heightened awareness regarding the need for dialogue regarding such matters. See, for example, Eliza Gray's article, "Why Nursing Homes Need to Have Sex Policies," published in Time magazine.
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