See Update No. 2 at the end of this post on the punishment Robert Ligayo faces with a conviction and more details on the case from the district attorney. Update No. 1 o the next page has the defendant, his family and his defense attorney claiming he's innocent.
ORIGINAL POST, JUNE 19, 8:50 A.M.: An Aliso Viejo man licensed since 2001 as an elderly caregiver was arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of a 69 66-year-old, in-home female client for the past six months, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Robert Ligayo, 62, was being held on $100,000 bail in the Orange County Jail after his arrest by the sheriff's Special Victims Detail.
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The Laguna Woods woman had contacted the sheriff's department, and during the investigation Ligayo admitted to the abuse, according to a sheriff's department arrest statement. He was arrested on suspicion of elder abuse and sexual battery around 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Due to Liyago's years of experience with various caregiver companies, authorities fear there may be other victims. Anyone with information that can help investigators is asked to call the sheriff's department at 714.647.7000. Anonymous tips can be left with OC Crimestoppers at 855.847.6227 or by visiting occrimestoppers.org.
UPDATE NO. 1, JUNE 19, 2:49 P.M.: Robert Ligayo pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today to one count of felony sexual penetration by foreign object and force.
His lawyer, Dennis O'Connell, says he will return to court June 26 to seek the halving of his jailed client's $100,000 bail.
Ligayo's family proclaimed his innocence to reporters and the judge at the hearing, City News Service reports.
“His wife said all of his patients love him and the company used him as one of their main guys because the patients liked him so much,'' O'Connell reportedly said.
UPDATE NO. 2, JUNE 19, 4 P.M.: Robert Dumlao Ligayo, a caregiver with Salus Home Care hired to take care of a 66-year-old disabled woman and her husband because they could not physically care for themselves, sexually assaulted the female despite her efforts to stop him, according to prosecutors.
If convicted, 62-year-old Ligayo faces up to eight years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration, according to an Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) statement that also corrects the victim's age.
The OCDA also added another person those possibly victimized by Ligayo can call: Supervising District Attorney Investigator Paul Carvo at 714.347.8794.
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