Patient was sexually assaulted by worker at mental health center in NC, cops say

A 19-year-old patient at a behavioral health center in Chapel Hill was sexually assaulted by a staff member last summer, according to the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office.

Timothy Lynn Alford, 53, of Burlington was arrested Monday and charged with second-degree forcible rape, officials said in a news release. He is also accused of misdemeanor sexual battery.

The incident happened Aug. 21, and the victim is a person with disabilities, according to the news release.

Alford is accused of sexual acts, including touching the patient inappropriately, the sheriff’s office said. The patient reportedly went to a UNC hospital the same day, and a sexual assault kit was administered.

The Special Victims Unit of the sheriff’s office “conducted multiple interviews and follow ups” with employees of the facility, according to the news release. Officials did not name the facility.

“During the course of the investigation, a search warrant was granted to search the suspect’s residence where DNA was collected,” officials said.

Bond was set at $75,000, according to the release.

This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Patient was sexually assaulted by worker at mental health center in NC, cops say."