PHOENIX — A trial for a nurse accused of raping an incapacitated woman at Phoenix care facility is scheduled to start by November.
Nathan Sutherland appeared in a Phoenix court Tuesday wearing jail garb and shackles accompanied by an attorney. A grand jury indicted Sutherland, a former nurse at Hacienda Healthcare, on charges of sexual assault and vulnerable adult abuse in January— one month after a patient with significant intellectual disabilities gave birth at the Phoenix care facility.
Hacienda Healthcare staff said they had no idea the woman was pregnant until she gave birth.
The case was designated as "complex." In Arizona, all complex cases shall be tried within 270 days from arraignment. Nov. 1, 2019, was scheduled for the last day.
While before the commissioner Tuesday, Sutherland's attorney also said they plan to file two motions. One for access to experts throughout the trial and another to allow Sutherland to wear normal clothes and not jail garb and shackles in future court appearances.
Those motions will be ruled on by Judge Douglas Gerlach who will oversee the trial.
Sutherland will appear in court next on May 21 for complex case management conference.