Serial Rapist

KPBS.com reported the damage caused by failing to report a sexual predator.  Serial rapist and certified nursing assistant Matthew Fluckiger terrorized nursing home residents in California. Between March 2017 and January 2020, at least four separate residents accused him of sexual assault. Fluckiger knew he could victimize with impunity.

He told one victim:

“I know where you and your family live, so trust me, I know you’re not going to say anything. Even if you do, no one will believe you, they love me here.”

Records show that state investigators allowed him to work in nursing homes after learning of the first rape allegation against Fluckiger in 2017. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) didn’t suspend Fluckiger’s license while it investigated repeated sexual assault claims against him.

During that time period, Fluckiger worked at least four nursing homes. He was accused of either sexual misconduct, sexual assault, sodomy or rape in each of those stops.

“This is just absolutely inexcusable,” said Ernest Tosh, a Texas lawyer. “There’s no argument that had CDPH revoked the license after the first case, after the second one or even after the third one, you would not have further victimization because he would have been in the state database as an offender who cannot be hired.”