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64 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, September 28, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 25, 2004 Earrings lead to second arrest By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Thanks to help from observant residents, police believe they’ve caught the man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her hospital bed earlier this week. Turns out they already had their suspect. Police in the Rogue Valley were hunting for a man wanted in California. Eagle Point police caught the suspect Wednesday night following an hour-long standoff in an Eagle Point grocery store parking lot. In what appeared to be an unrelated sexual assault, Medford police were looking for a man who assaulted a 33-year-old patient at Providence Medford Medical Center on Tuesday. Several people called police with the link: The suspect in both cases wore two hoop earrings in one ear. Medford police Friday identified and booked Richie Lee Nevis, 54, of Santa Cruz, Calif., on three counts of first-degree sex abuse and one count of first-degree burglary. Nevis was still lodged in the Jackson County Jail following his Wednesday arrest. Advertisement "My take on it is it was the public involvement," said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran during a press conference Friday. Callers apparently made the connection after seeing the two stories on local television news broadcasts. On Tuesday, the female patient reported that a man came to her room and told her he was a medical student in training. Under the pretense of working, he allegedly touched her in a sexual manner, then left. The patient reported the incident to staff, who then contacted police. With the help of hospital employees who had seen a man matching the suspect’s description, police drew a sketch that was then publicized in the Mail Tribune and on television news broadcasts. Santa Cruz police had warned Eagle Point police earlier in the week that Nevis, who was wanted on felony assault charges in California, could be in Eagle Point. On Wednesday, police arrested Nevis after an hour-long standoff in the parking lot of Ray’s Food Place in Eagle Point. Police subdued Nevis with non-lethal beanbag rounds fired from a 12- gauge shotgun. Chuck Wright, chief executive of Providence hospital, said the hospital’s administration is in the process of reviewing their visitation policy to avoid a repeat of Tuesday’s assault. "We take the safety of our patients very seriously," Wright said. He said the solution won’t be simple because having friends and family visit is part of the healing process. There is no easy way to screen visitors. "Who looks suspicious to you may not look suspicious to the next person," Wright said. Moran said earlier reports that the suspect was in the patient’s room for "hours" were not accurate, and the investigation was ongoing. "I’m glad he was apprehended," said Wright. "We’ve been getting a lot of false reports from staff." The patient has been released from the hospital and is at home, according to Wright. Nevis was in the Jackson County Jail Friday night on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to face a grand jury next week. His extradition to California will have to be sorted out before he can face charges there, said Moran. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities