PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Phoenix senior care facility worker who sexually assaulted a woman with dementia in his care learned his punishment for the crime on Friday.
A judge sentenced Ernesto Aguilar Barbosa to two years in prison and lifetime probation. He must also register as a sex offender. The punishment was agreed to in a plea deal, and he gets 349 days’ credit for time served.
Before the sentencing, the victim’s youngest daughter read a family statement to the court, condemning Barbosa’s actions. “You have acted completely contrary to your professional and moral obligations as a caregiver,” she said. “You are a sexual predator who preyed on my mother and other vulnerable people. You violated the trust put in you and there is no justification for your actions.”
She said that she is very concerned for other women he may meet when he gets out of prison. “Your social barometer is so lacking that you do not even acknowledge your sickening behavior and that is where the danger lies, for you to prey on other vulnerable women as a sexual predator.”
She added he hoped that he would change his ways in prison and look to God for help.
In the plea agreement, the judge said Barbosa admitted and took responsibility for his actions.
The case started when one of the victim’s daughters called the Brookdale Senior Living near 40th Street and Union Hills Road on July 26, 2024, to report that Barbosa was in his mother’s room with his pants down after sexually assaulting her. She was alerted because a motion-activated camera went off and took photos.
When initially confronted, Barbosa admitted to being in the room but only cleaning out the garbage. However, detectives obtained the photos that corroborated the sexual assault.
Court paperwork said during a sexual assault examination, the victim reportedly cried and yelled to the effect, “Not this again. Don’t make me do this again.”
Barbosa was arrested and later booked into jail on sexual assault and kidnapping charges.
In May, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempt to commit sexual assault and one count of adult vulnerable abuse.
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