By Joe Johnson
A man has been indicted for assaulting a patient who was strapped to a hospital bed two years ago.
Trenton Emory Davis, 31, of Nicholson, was charged exploitation of a disabled adult, elder person, or resident, according to the indictment filed last week in Clarke County Superior Court.
He was charged with the felony offense because he “did willfully inflict physical injury upon (the victim), a disabled adult by repeatedly hitting him,” according to the indictment.
The police arrest warrant indicates that the incident happened in June 2023 at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, and that Davis struck the victim 13 times in the head “as he was strapped to a hospital bed.” The assault “caused obvious marks to the (victim’s) face.”
Davis was arrested the day of the incident on a misdemeanor battery charge.
The Sheriff’s Office transported him two months to the Advantage Behavioral Health Systems inpatient mental health program, under orders of a judge to follow the recommended treatment plan, and take all prescribed medications.
A grand jury that convened March 4 in Superior Court indicted Davis on the felony charge.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on April 15.