A male nurse who was extradited from Canada pleaded not guilty Tuesday to elder abuse and committing a lewd act with a 98-year-old female stroke patient while he was engaging in a sex act with another male nurse.
Bail was set at $200,000 for Russell Olvena Torralba, 41, by San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Smyth. Torralba pleaded not guilty to all nine counts, most of which involve elder abuse to other patients at other facilities in Mira Mesa where Torralba worked.
Canadian officials arrested Torralba Jan. 13 in Vancouver on a warrant from a San Diego judge. He waived extradition proceedings in Canada and was flown to Washington. Torralba arrived in San Diego Feb. 20 and has been in jail ever since.
The registered nurses licenses for Torralba and Alfredo Villagarcia Ruiz, 42, were revoked July 2, 2013. A preliminary hearing has been set for June 16.
Both Torralba and Ruiz were working in a private home where the 98-year-old woman lived and her daughter became suspicious of them and placed a hidden video camera in her room. Ruiz is accused of putting his penis into the woman’s hand while Torralba is holding him. The tape shows one nurse trying to kiss the woman, who cannot speak, while being fondled by the other nurse.
Somehow the video got onto at least six Web sites online and was also given to television news stations. One Web site says the video has received 391,421 views. The victim’s face is blocked out, as are the genitals of the nurses.
Ruiz has also pleaded not guilty and remains free on $200,000 bond.
Torralba relocated to Vancouver and was working illegally as a nurse when he was arrested.
