Bail increased for nurse accused in sex assault

Bail was increased Thursday for a male nurse accused of molesting sedated female patients at Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

"We believe the defendant is a threat to the community," Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Langer said in asking for the increase to $125,000 from $55,000 during a hearing before Judge John Tatro.

Jason Laurie, 29, appeared in jailhouse garb, his hands shackled at his waist as the 12 charges filed against him were read in court.

His attorney, Diane Crow, argued an increase was moot because Laurie couldn't raise the current bail. However, Tatro agreed to the increase.

"The charges are substantially more serious and so I'm going to go along with Ms. Langer's request," he said.

Laurie was arrested Feb. 14 after two women complained over two days that they had been sexually touched by Laurie while under sedation.

He was originally arraigned on one count of sexual assault and two counts of gross misdemeanor open and gross lewdness. An investigation revealed as many as a dozen women said they believed they'd been victimized by Laurie while under his care between September and February.

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

The Nevada State Board of Nursing is scheduled to hold a hearing today to determine whether Laurie's license will be revoked permanently. The license was suspended Feb. 19.