ROME---William Morrison, a former aide at the Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility, convicted last month of raping and sexually assaulting a 90-year-old resident of the nursing home, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 5 years' post-release supervision for first degree rape.

Morrison, 46, of Utica was also sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years' post-release supervision for his conviction of first degree sexual abuse; and 1 1/3-to-4 years in prison for his conviction of endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person.

The sentences, which will run concurrently, were issued by Judge Michael L. Dwyer in Oneida County Court. Morrison was convicted of the three felonies on March 2 after a five-day trial before Judge Dwyer.

Morrison was an employee at Rome Memorial Hospital for several months before being transferred to the hospital's affiliated 80-bed nursing home. The crime was committed approximately two weeks after the transfer. Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility intended to perform a criminal background check when Morrison was transferred, but it was not completed before he raped the elderly resident. The background check would have revealed that Morrison was previously convicted for one felony drug offense in 1992 and several misdemeanors in the 1990s. His last conviction was for a misdemeanor drug offense in 1999.

Upon learning of the alleged incident, nursing home administrators immediately transferred the victim to the hospital for an examination. The Rome Police Department initiated an investigation, during which DNA evidence implicated the defendant. Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility immediately terminated Morrison and has cooperated fully throughout the investigation and the trial, according to the Attorney General's office. 4-19-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette