83-Year Old Faces Sexual Battery Charges

Investigator Rocky Potter says he’s been in law enforcement for 27 years and says he’s worked several sexual assault cases.

However, he tells WDEF he’s never seen one quite like this.

When a nurse made her rounds through the Life Care Center facility, she happened to look in a patients window and see something suspicious and disturbing.

She immediately reported it to an administrator, who then notified Detective Rocky Potter with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department.

"She called and said the nurse reported some activity in a patient’s room that was a little suspicious to her," says Potter.

Detective Potter says 83-year old Harold Suttles allegedly went into a patient’s room and committed sexual battery.

Potter says Suttles is no stranger to the Life Care Center.

Infact, he’s the legal guardian for his sister in law, who lives in the nursing home.

"He has family that’s there. They all know him by his first name. He’s there about the same time for the same amount of time every day. But, he was in a room with a patient that he normally doesn’t visit or speak with," says Potter.

During the investigation, Potter says Suttles was cooperative and provided the detective with applicable information.

"He gave me a statement that was consistent with sexual assault at the nursing home," says Potter.

He also confessed to a similar incident with the same woman back in 2012.

After interviewing Suttles and getting the victim’s statement, Potter says they had enough evidence to charge him with two counts of sexual battery.

Potter presented the case to the grand jury on December 1st and shortly after, Suttles turned himself in to authorities.

Suttles is expected to appear in court next month.

He faces two counts of sexual battery.