Police charge nursing home resident with sexual battery

LANTANA, Fla. — An 87-year-old Lantana, Florida, man with a reputation of fondling nursing home staff is facing sexual battery charges for performing oral sex on a 94-year-old man debilitated by Parkinson’s disease.

Louis Lawson, who appeared Thursday in court in a wheelchair, was found in the victim's room performing the sex act. Lawson's roommate told Lantana police that Lawson would "screw anything that walked."
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An attorney said in court Thursday that the incident happened at Village on High Ridge nursing home in November. Lawson is "not welcome back" to the nursing home, according to prosecutors, and is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

Police were called to the nursing home Nov. 13 after an employee was called to the victim’s room Nov. 11 and found Lawson performing oral sex.

When the staff asked Lawson why he was doing that, he said the victim wanted him to. Lawson repeatedly told police he was just "horsing around."

When police asked Lawson why he did not consider the incident rape, Lawson responded, "Well, he didn’t push me away." Attorneys said the victim is severely physically disabled, though the staff say he is aware of his surroundings.

Police say Lawson is functional and aware of what happened.

The man’s roommate described Lawson as "oversexed." The facility’s staff said they have found Lawson touching himself. He also is known for grabbing and fondling staff.

According to police records, Lawson has lived in the nursing home for at least three years.

Cox Media Group