AG: Phillip Harris, former Glen Cove nursing home aide, sentenced to up to 6 years in prison for sexual abuse of 2 disabled people
Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Glen Cove. Credit: Danielle Silverman
A former Glen Cove nursing home aide convicted of sexually assaulting two disabled residents under his care in 2022 was sentenced Friday to prison, the New York State Attorney General's Office said.
Nassau County Supreme Court Judge Helene Gugerty sentenced Phillip Harris, 43, of Central Islip, to 2 to 6 years in prison and ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine.
A Nassau jury last month found Harris guilty of three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person; two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, or an incompetent or physically disabled person; two counts of willful violation of public health laws; and two counts of forcible touching. The jury found the former aide not guilty of three counts of falsifying business records related to alleged false statements he made during the investigation.
Kevin Maccarone, Harris' Glen Cove-based defense attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.
Harris told state Health Department inspectors who investigated the crimes at Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center that "God and angels" helped him provide care for residents.
Prosecutors said that Harris, who began working at the nursing home as a certified nursing assistant in late 2021, sexually assaulted two disabled residents — one of whom reported it to his wife and daughter — in March 2022.
Family members then reported the allegations to the Glen Cove Police Department and to the nursing home, which launched an investigation that also uncovered the other assault, prosecutors said.
The state Health Department, which investigated the accusations, reported that the two residents had extensive mobility issues and required assistance with bathing. They alleged that Harris assaulted them at least on one occasion during a bed bath.
One resident said in an interview with nursing home staff that they could not "face their family due to the shame of the incident," a Health Department report states. "[The resident] was observed during the interview crying with tears dripping from their cheeks and shaking. ... [The resident] was observed making a fist and waving their hands and stated, this should have not happened."
A second resident told family members of experiencing a similar assault from Harris.
Harris denied committing sexual abuse, telling inspectors that "God and Angels helped me taking care of residents and helped my days and nights go smooth, easy, and fast. ... God gave me a mission to help people. They had a special gift of knowledge to take care of people, and they can utilize it to assist residents."
Harris was fired and Glengariff was fined $10,000 for failing to "ensure residents' rights to be free from sexual abuse."
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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