EspañolSanta Ana Caretaker Phuong Khong (Full Name: Phuong Hoang Khong) Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Elderly Woman He Was Caring For
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA (March 17, 2025) – A Santa Ana caretaker identified as Phuong Khong was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 93-year-old woman that he was caring for.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office charged the defendant on Friday. He was hired to care for a 93-year-old bedridden nonverbal woman.
According to prosecutors, Phuong Khong tied the victim to a bed before sexually assaulting her. He turned himself in on February 3 after the family of the victim threatened to turn him in.
Phuong Khong is facing numerous charges, including rape by force, forcible oral copulation, and elder abuse. If convicted on all of the charges, he faces 75 years to life in prison.
A full investigation into the scope of the abuse remains ongoing.
Liability for Orange County Sexual Abuse in Care Settings
Sexual abuse among care patients is unfortunately all too common. Elderly people with cognitive and physical disabilities can be particularly at risk. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, “National data suggests that three to five million older adults experience some form of abuse annually (Connolly, 2011). The National Center on Elder Abuse found that between one and two million Americans age 65 and older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depend (National Center on Elder Abuse, 2012).” Care providers should take a number of actions in order to protect elderly patients from sexual abuse.
- All employees in a care setting should undergo thorough background checks.
- Staff should be trained to recognize, prevent, and respond to potential instances of sexual misconduct.
- Care providers should ensure that facilities are adequately staffed in order to minimize the amount of time that any single patient is left alone.
- Care providers should establish confidential reporting mechanisms in order to shed light on misconduct.
People who commit sexual violence against elderly patients could be held liable for their actions through civil and criminal claims. Pursuant to California Penal Code § 261, people who engage in non-consensual sexual intercourse through force, fear, or coercion are guilty of rape. When the victim is a dependent adult, additional penalties may apply. Liability for the sexual abuse of vulnerable elderly people could extend beyond any individual defendant.
Companies that hire care providers have a legal obligation to protect patients from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from criminal misconduct, including sexual assaults. When a business negligently hires or retains an employee that sexually assaults an elderly patient, they could be held liable through a civil claim. There are several elements that must be demonstrated in any legal claim asserting negligent hiring or retention.
- The worker was unfit for their job or posed an unreasonable danger to clients.
- The worker’s employer knew or should have known about the danger that the worker posed.
- The unfit nature of the worker caused harm to the victim.
- The company’s negligent hiring or retention was a substantial factor in causing the harm.
It can be hard to know what to do after any instance of sexual assault involving a care provider. People place a great deal of faith in institutions that their loved ones will be adequately cared for. But far too many situations arise where providers employ predators or people simply not qualified for their positions. Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful and damaging experiences that most people will go through in their lives. It can leave victims with long-lasting physical and psychological injuries. Any person that is the victim of sexual abuse in a care setting may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Orange County Sexual Abuse in Care Settings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP were deeply concerned to hear about the horrific allegations against Phuong Khong. Any person that may have more information about the defendant should reach out to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the potential scope of the misconduct. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar incidents down the road.
Have you or someone you care about been sexually abused in an Orange County care setting? Our team of sexual abuse attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of sexual abuse are aware of their rights and that their perpetrators are held accountable for their misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
