Case of Interest: People v. Devery Wilkerson

Contact: Chris Ore, Adult Sexual Assault Prosecution Unit, (916) 874-9024

Devery Wilkerson, 41, was sentenced to 14 years state prison for sexually assaulting eight male patients at Mercy Hospital. Mr. Wilkerson, an employee of Mercy Hospital, was assigned to shave the chest, legs and pubic area of patients prior to heart surgery. The assaults occurred in the summer of 2003. Seven of the eight patients were in the hospital for heart procedures. The eighth patient was a young man who required back surgery after falling from a roof. The Defendant entered the victims’ rooms while they were under medication and fondled their penises. On one occasion, the Defendant orally copulated one patient, who awoke to find his penis in the Defendant’s mouth. The patient reported the assault to other nursing staff and a hospital investigation led to the discovery of another victim the same day. Eventually eight victims ranging in age from 30 to 80 years old were identified.

On November 4, 2004, a jury found Mr. Wilkerson guilty of 10 different felony counts of sexual abuse, including Sexual Battery and Unlawful Oral Copulation.
Deputy District Attorney Chris Ore stated that “Mr. Wilkerson, as a hospital worker, broke the trust of the patients who were in a vulnerable position just before surgery and that breach warrants this strong sentence.”