VERO BEACH — A 92-year-old nursing home volunteer is accused of grabbing a patient’s breasts, Indian River County deputies said. The man later admitted to a staff member he committed the act.
Henry Iacometta, of the 400 block of Perch Lane, Sebastian, was arrested on a warrant and charged with battery. He was released Nov. 3 from the Indian River County Jail; his bail amount was not available.
Henry Iacometta
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
About 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7, a deputy went to Palm Gardens of Vero Beach Health and Rehabilitation Center in response to an indecent act. The deputy spoke with a nurse, who said a patient accused a volunteer of battery at the nursing home.
The patient had told the nursing staff that a volunteer, later identified as Iacometta, grabbed her breasts in the hallway in front of the nurse’s station. The patient said no staff members saw the incident.
The nurse said the patient has a history of bipolar disorder and possibly early onstage dementia, according to authorities. The nurse said Iacometta has never had any allegations made against him.
The deputy then spoke with the patient, who said she was in the hallway earlier outside of the Bingo room when a man approached her and suddenly grabbed both of her breasts, deputies said. She didn’t know the man’s name, but said he sometimes helps push her in her wheelchair to her room.
The patient said she didn’t want to pursue charges, but wanted to document the incident. The deputy spoke with Iacometta, who said, “I am a 92-year-old man; I have no reason to do such things.”
On Oct. 11, the deputy spoke with a nursing staff member, who said Iacometta admitted to her that he actually did touch the patient’s breasts, deputies said. The staff member said the patient had now changed her mind and wished to pursue criminal charges.
The deputy went to Iacometta’s home, where Iacometta admitted again to touching the patient’s breasts, but couldn’t say why.
Iacometta apologized and said he doesn’t know why he did it because he’s 92-years-old and would “get no satisfaction from such things.”
The deputy asked Iacometta why he changed his story from their first conversation. Iacometta said he was confused at the time and didn’t know what was being asked.
Iacometta was arrested and taken to the county jail for booking.