Paramedic Mark Powell Charged With Raping An Unconscious Woman Straped To A Stretcher Inside Ambulance

Jan. 6, 2012



HAMDEN, Conn. -- A paramedic raped a woman as she lay unconscious and strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance on the way to a hospital, police said Friday.
The 22-year-old woman, who had fallen and suffered a concussion at a holiday party, says she woke up to find the man assaulting her inside the ambulance on Dec. 25, according to Hamden police. She said she could not move because she was strapped down.
Mark Powell, 49, of North Haven, surrendered Thursday to face charges of first-degree sexual assault and unlawful restraint and was released on $25,000 bond. He did not respond to a phone message seeking comment, and it was unclear whether he had an attorney.
Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said the allegations represent "outrageous and horrifying conduct" by an emergency medical professional.
"Our society places the greatest level of trust and confidence in its public safety providers, and the circumstances in this case reflect a tremendous breach of that faith. The victim in this incident demonstrated enormous strength and courage in bringing this complaint forward," he said.
Police responded to the report of the woman's fall around 3 a.m., and she was treated at the scene. She was allegedly assaulted en route to Yale-New Haven Hospital and contacted police after she was released.
Powell was the only person in the American Medical Response ambulance aside from a driver and the victim, according to Hamden Police Capt. Ronald Smith. He said investigators are still conducting interviews and waiting for lab results, but charges are not expected to be filed against anybody else.

AMR spokeswoman Deborah Hileman said it is a national standard to have only one person in the back of the ambulance during the transport of a patient.
The company said Powell has been placed on administrative leave. HELLO!!! Why Wasn't This Guy Fired? What if he's innocent you ask? They can hire him back after the trial."This kind of behavior is an affront to AMR caregivers across Connecticut who provide high quality care to their patients each and every day, with integrity and compassion," AMR General Manager Charles Babson said.

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I cannot believe his bond was only $25K!!! And, would bet my bippy this is not his first rodeo.

June 02, 2012

Paramedic Mark Powell, who is accused of sexually assaulting an unconscious ambulance patient, has turned down a plea deal that would have involved prison time and is headed for a trial, his attorney said Friday during a brief Superior Court hearing.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Doyle told Judge Roland Fasano that negotiations with defense attorney Norm Pattis had not led to a resolution.

“We’re not willing to consider a period of incarceration,” Pattis said.

Fasano continued the case to June 22 for another pretrial session. The trial probably won’t happen until sometime next year, (2013) according to Pattis.

Powell, 49, of North Haven, is charged with first-degree sexual assault and unlawful restraint for allegedly touching the breast and genitals of a 22-year-old during the ambulance ride Christmas morning of last year.

The complainant reportedly got drunk at a party in Hamden, then fell and hit her head while she was dancing. An American Medical Response ambulance was summoned.

The woman told police she awoke during the ride and discovered Powell was touching her. Powell has said he was trying to “elicit a response from or awake the female,” according to the Hamden police warrant.

Pattis has said Powell’s words were misrepresented by the police.

Powell, who is free because he posted $25,000 bail, wore a tie to Friday’s session. He did not speak as he stood beside Pattis. After his arrest, he was placed on unpaid administrative leave from his job.

In the courthouse elevator with Powell after court adjourned, Pattis said the state had offered a sentence in the range of five years.

Pattis said it would be inappropriate for Powell to serve time, “given all the good he has done for his community.”

“We look forward to a trial,” Pattis added.

Powell declined to talk about the situation.

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I remember this case! Another one to for updating Nite.
Playing devils advocate here, I wonder if this guy is even guilty. Is this the first complaint against him? How long has he been a paramedic? This girl was drunk and had a concussion, maybe she remembers something that didn't happen? There's not enough history in these articles for me to just assume he's guilty. If he is, then he needs to be sentenced. If he's not, then his life has been ruined. I have known someone that had something similar happen to them, it changed his life forever and there's no way I believe the accuser. MOO.

yep you read it right 3 1/2 years in prison...

June 19, 2014

A former paramedic who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman in his ambulance in Connecticut has been sentenced to 3-and-a-half years in prison.

Mark Powell, 52, of North Haven was sentenced Wednesday in New Haven Superior Court.

The married father agreed to the prison time and lifetime sex offender registration when he pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault in April. He will also serve 10 years' probation after his release.

His victim, who was 22 at the time of the assault, said in court that Powell was a 'monster' who sexually pleased himself at her expense.

Prosecutors say Powell and another paramedic responded to a Hamden party early Christmas morning in 2011 to treat an unconscious and intoxicated attendee who fell and hit her head while dancing.

The woman said she woke up in the ambulance and Powell was touching her in a sexual way.

'This was extreme, perverted behavior,' Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford said as he imposed the sentence.

Powell told police he had made 'a very bad judgment call' when he touched the woman's breasts and genitals and initially said he did so in an effort to 'elicit a response or wake the female.' He previously denied touching her at all the admitted to pinching her nipple and digitally penetrating her.

On Wednesday, the victim read from a statement in court, where she was accompanied by her mother, sister and boyfriend, stating that the incident haunted her every day and had ruined Christmas for her forever.

According to the Register, she called Powell 'a coward in a professional position he used to his sexual advantage.'

On April 1, Powell pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault rather than risk a much longer sentence if he was convicted at trial.

Prosecutors said Powell's co-worker, a female EMT, was driving the ambulance and was unaware of what was happening in the back. The pair worked for American Medical Response.

The driver, however, was greatly disturbed to find out about it later.

The victim reported the attack three days afterward after her mother encouraged her to do so.

She told police she woke during the ride when she felt her breast being rubbed and her vagina touched, according to the Register.

She said she remembered screaming for Powell to stop.

Clifford called the case 'baffling.'

'You're in a professional position of trust,' he told Powell. 'Your job is to treat, not sexually assault somebody.'

Powell didn't get a longer sentence, he said, because the EMT had no prior criminal record and cooperated with police.

Powell's lawyer, Norm Pattis, said his client's statement made the state's case and he was confused why he confessed to police.

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