Jeovanni Hildebrand Hechavarria, 37, is facing up to 30 years in prison, after being found guilty as charged of Sexual Battery When Victim Helpless following a four-day trial in Lee County. The jury returned the guilty verdict late Friday night.
Hechavarria was a nurse for Lee Memorial Health Systems. This case involves three victims. A female patient at Cape Coral Hospital reported being sexually assaulted by the defendant one night while she was in her hospital bed in 2016.
The Cape Coral Police Department started an investigation. The hospital confirmed the defendant was the patient’s nurse and the suspect’s DNA was found on a towel in the patient’s room. The defendant had used the towel to wipe himself off following the attack. Hechavarria was subsequently arrested.
During the course of this investigation it was learned that two other patients had been sexually abused by the defendant, one in 2015 and one in 2016. All of the victims testified at trial.
Assistant State Attorney Audra Thomas-Eth and Assistant State Attorney Erin Hughes prosecuted the case. Sentencing is scheduled for March 3rd.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125