WASHINGTON — DC Police announced the arrest of a man wanted for sexual abuse on Thursday.
On Wednesday, 44-year-old Jerry Mack was arrested and charged with First-Degree Sexual Abuse of a Patient. Police say his victim was a 17-year-old girl. She was admitted at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington located on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest where he was employed for two years as a mental health tech. During this time, he was assigned to the juvenile floor which housed juveniles from age 10 to 17.
The attack occurred on November 3. The victim reported the attack to another staff member who contacted police. During her interview with police, the teen described the attack and the events that led up to it.
The teen was admitted to PIW from November 1-6. She told police that Mack seemed to have a special interest in her and was always very friendly. He consoled her when she was crying and would always joke with her saying he would “whoop her a**.”
According to the affidavit, on November 3, Mack entered the teen’s room while she was showering to tell her that there were designated times for patients to shower and that she needed to finish up. Mack did not enter the bathroom, but did come back to the room several times while she was in the shower.
The teen wrapped herself in a towel and walked into her room. Mack said he was going to “whoop her a**.” The teen took it as a joke and told him she needed to get dressed first. Once dressed, she was instructed to place her hands on the bed, Mack then proceeded to spank the victim on the butt twice.
The following day the teen woke up and went to the unit’s common area. Shortly after, Mack appeared and told her to follow him to the laundry room. During the investigation it was discovered that this room is a restricted area and can only be accessed with a key.
The teen complied and went to the laundry room with Mack. Once inside she says he started groping her, grabbing her breast, reaching into her pants and touching her genitals. Mack then took the teen’s hand and placed it on his genitals, before pushing her down to her knees and forcing the teen to perform oral sex on him.
The assault didn’t last long because they allegedly heard noises in the hallway. The two can be seen on surveillance video leaving the laundry room.
Later that same day, the teen was in the common area when Mack approached her again. This time demanding that she masturbate in front of him while he watched.
She reported the incident the following day to another staff member. When Mack arrived at work on November 5, he was told not to come back while the hospital and police conducted an investigation.
On November 27, Mack spoke with police to tell his side of the events.
At first, he tried to deny the events that took place in the laundry room, until detectives told him that they obtained surveillance footage showing both of them leaving the room. Only then did Mack admit to what took place in the laundry room, alluding to it being consensual.
However, Mack vehemently denied forcing the teen to touch herself while in the common area, saying she did it on her own accord.
WUSA9 reached out to the Pyschiatric Institute of Washington for comment and received the following statement:
"Mr. Mack had been employed as a Mental Health Technician at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. His employment was suspended immediately on the day the allegation was made. Our PIW team reported the allegation immediately to CPS and DC Metro Police for investigation. We continue to provide our full cooperation to the authorities in investigating this matter."
Police say based on the investigation they had probable cause to issue an arrest warrant. Mack was arraigned on Thursday and is currently on house arrest. He has also been ordered to stay away from the victim, her family, and the PIW where he worked. His next court date is set for January 9, 2024.
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