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Former paramedic found guilty of sexually assaulting unconscious patient
A former paramedic was found guilty Wednesday of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in the back of an ambulance, following a jury deliberation that lasted about five hours.
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. - A former paramedic was found guilty Monday of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in the back of an ambulance, following a jury deliberation that lasted about five hours.
James Melady was on trial for an Oct. 2021 incident in which he was charged with sexual battery and video voyeurism after investigators say he inappropriately touched a woman’s genitals and filmed it while working as a paramedic in Flagler County.
What we know:
In court on Wednesday, a jury found Melady guilty of sexual battery against a woman. The woman was allegedly Melady's patient.
The jury also found that Melady was not guilty of the second count against him: video voyeurism.
Melady took the stand in his own defense, arguing that the 2021 incident — captured on ambulance video — did not constitute sexual battery. Melady claimed he was merely doing a thorough exam when he filmed himself touching an unconscious patient’s genitals in the back of an ambulance in 2021.
And he said he filmed it because he didn’t have a second paramedic with him, so he wanted documentation of the exam to protect himself.
Jurors disagreed, convicting him of sexual battery for groping the patient’s genitals while he was on duty. He was acquitted of a separate charge of video voyeurism.
"The defendant not only abused our victim – he abused the position he held as a first responder," State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. "His sentence should reflect the damage he did to our victim and to the profession he shamed."
New protocols
Flagler County Fire Rescue changed its protocols after Melady’s arrest last year, adding cameras in the back of all ambulances, and mandating two personnel have to ride in the back together when transporting patients considered vulnerable or underage.
What's next:
Melody faces up to 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
This case is not Melody’s only legal trouble. Earlier this year, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested him on allegations that he stole credit cards and identification from patients and used the information to make purchases. Investigators said they are still seeking additional potential victims.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Daytona Beach Police Department, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, and court proceedings in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.