Charges: Nurse drugged patients

Accusations that former emergency-room nurse Jason Laurie intentionally over-sedated his patients so he could molest them were among 12 charges filed Wednesday.

Laurie, 29, of Gardnerville, "reported false symptoms to the victim's doctor in order to obtain and administer a controlled substance ... in order to commit battery," a criminal complaint filed in Carson City Justice Court alleges.

He is charged with four counts of felony administration of a controlled substance to aid in the commission of a crime of violence, one count of felony sexual assault and seven counts of gross misdemeanor open and gross lewdness stemming from the accusations of seven women.

Investigators forwarded to the District Attorney's Office last week a report identifying 12 women who claimed they were sexually molested by Laurie while being treated at Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

He was arrested Feb. 14 on a sexual assault charge and two charges of open and gross lewdness after two women told hospital security he had fondled them. He is in Carson City Jail with bail set at $55,000.

The charges against Laurie are based on allegations that:

-- on Sept. 13, he pinched or twisted the breast of a patient.

-- on Sept. 14, he rubbed a patient's left breast.

-- on Oct. 5, he rubbed the breasts of a patient.

-- on Oct. 18, he touched the breasts of a patient.

-- on Nov. 21, he lied about a patient's symptoms so a doctor would prescribe Demerol, then rubbed her left breast.

-- on Feb. 6, he lied about a patient's symptoms so a doctor would prescribe Ativan, then kissed her breasts.

-- on Feb. 13, he lied about a patient's symptoms so a doctor would prescribe Ativan, violated her with his finger and kissed her breasts.

The assaults reportedly occurred in a large observation ward with eight beds divided by privacy curtains.

Laurie was at the top of his class at Western Nevada Community College when he graduated from the nursing program in 2001. He was hired at the hospital soon after graduation and fired three days after his arrest. His license was suspended Feb. 19 by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. He is scheduled to go before the board for a formal hearing Friday to determine whether his license will be revoked permanently.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Langer said she will ask the court to increase Laurie's bail considering the new charges. He is expected to appear for arraignment in court today.