Napa Psychiatric Patient Pleads Not Guilty In Attack
NAPA (AP) -- A Napa State Hospital psychiatric patient accused of attacking an employee has pleaded not guilty to felony assault charges.
Authorities say 24-year-old Sean Bouchie beat a rehabilitation therapist unconscious as the pair were walking outdoors in a secure area of the hospital Saturday. He entered his plea in court Tuesday.
The Napa Valley Register reports that 60-year-old George Anderson remains hospitalized with multiple fractures to his face and skull and a small cranial bleed.
The assault happened less than two months after another patient allegedly killed a psychiatric technician. Employees have complained of understaffing at the facility.
Saturday's incident has led to tighter security, including a rule that employees may not be with a patient by themselves.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
