Child (13) Who Bit Nurse Charged With Felony Assault

On March 5, a 13-year-old pediatric patient in the emergency department at Wynn Hospital was charged with felony assault after biting a nurse so severely that the wound broke the skin. "The juvenile grabbed the nurse’s hair, pulled her down, and then bit her on the arm, breaking the skin causing substantial pain and injury to the nurse," Utica, New York, police said. 

The child was charged with Assault in the second degree, a Class D felony in New York State, but was released on an appearance ticket due to their age.

Felony Charge for a Minor

Law enforcement responded swiftly, charging the 13-year-old with second-degree assault, a Class D felony under New York State law. However, due to the minor’s age, they were released on an appearance ticket rather than being held in custody.

Limited Details Due to Patient Privacy

Since the suspect is a minor, authorities have not released personal details, including their medical condition or reason for being in the hospital. While privacy laws protect juvenile patients, they also leave the public with unanswered questions about what led to the attack.

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