A resident with dementia at an assisted living facility was groped by a visitor
- May 26
- 4 min read
| by Travis Uresk | May 26th, 2026 |
Vernal, Utah (5/24/26)—At 5:40 pm, police were notified of a sexual offense that occurred at the Landmark Assisted Living facility at 301 E 100 S.
The administrator of the facility told dispatch that one of the residents, who is a 69-year-old with dementia, was groped by a visitor.
Officer Monsen with the VPD arrived at the address and spoke with the administrator and a CNA who witnessed the incident. The CNA told the officer she was walking another resident to the main living room when she saw a man with his hand on the woman's breast.
The administrator, the CNA, or any staff member has ever seen the man at the facility before. The CNA walked up to the man and told him not to do that, and it was her job to protect the residents. The man left, and she was able to get his license plate number.
The administrator told the officer that the incident had been recorded on the security cameras. In the video, a man walks into the main living room and goes straight toward the victim sitting in a chair. He talks to the victim momentarily and then gives her a hug. When he leans down to give the victim a hug, he places his left hand on her breast and keeps it there during the hug.
The man stands back up, briefly talks to the victim, then sits down in a chair next to the woman and talks to her for about 30 minutes. He then stands up, hugs the woman, and again places his hand on her breast for at least 2 minutes.
In the video, you can clearly see the man's hand grasping and manipulating the victim's breast. It also appears in the video that he leans in closer and looks like he kisses the victim. At this point in the recording, the CNA mentioned earlier walks over to James and tells him to stop what he was doing. The male then leaves the building.
The victim's daughter arrived and was shown the security footage, and neither she nor her family knew who the man was. Officer Monsen took the daughter to her mother's room to ask her some questions about what had happened. The officer tried to speak to the victim, but it was apparent that due to the severity of her dementia, she couldn’t follow a conversation about the sexual abuse.
Officer Monsen conducted a records check on the license plate number provided by the CNA. The number was returned to a white 2023 Chevrolet Corvette, which was registered to 69-year-old James Irving Magee.
From the exterior camera footage at the Landmark, it was clearly seen in the video that a newer white Corvette was parked in the parking lot, and that James left the area in that same vehicle.
The officer located James’ address in Vernal and drove to his residence, and knocked on the door. James opened the door wearing the same clothing seen in the security camera footage.
Officer Monsen told James he had a couple of questions. James confirmed that he had a white 2023 Corvette and that he had been at Landmark Assisted Living earlier. He claimed he hadn't seen the woman in a long time and went there to visit with her. The officer asked what the conversation was about, and James stated they were just visiting. He paused for a moment and said, "I did touch her boob."
During questioning, James was asked when he last spoke to the victim, and he thought it was approximately 2 years ago. James confirmed this was the first time talking to the victim since she's been staying at the assisted living facility.
James was asked about the difference between the victim when they last spoke and how she was in today's interaction. James stated that their interaction tonight was good, but she couldn't remember much. He was then asked if she remembered him, and James stated, "Kind of, it was iffy if she would or wouldn't remember me."
The officer then asked about him putting his hand on the woman’s breast, and James said he didn’t really grab her, but when he went to hug her, he did put his hand on her breast, and said, “I admit it.”
James was asked if it could have been an accident, and he said, “It started out as an accident, and then I did it.”
On multiple occasions, James would state that he had admitted it, that he had totally screwed up, and that it was his own stupidity. The officer asked about the kissing, and James claimed the victim kissed him on the cheek, but he did not believe that he kissed the victim.
James stated that he screwed up and admitted what he had done. Officer Monsen asked James why he felt this way. James stated he hadn't spoken to her, didn’t know what her "capacity" was, and "to take advantage of somebody like that." He then stopped that sentence and stated that it wasn't for more than two to three seconds, and then stated he did touch her boobs.
Officer Monsen determined that there was enough probable cause that James committed forcible sexual abuse, and arrested and transported James to the Uintah County Jail.
Traffic and Criminal Report
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