St. Luke's X-Ray Tech Charged With Sexually Abusing Sleeping Patient

An X-ray technician at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital is accused of sexually assaulting a patient while she was asleep during a test, authorities say.

Police say the 41-year-old suspect allegedly touched the genitals of a 59-year-old woman at about 6 a.m. Sunday at the Upper Manhattan facility, according to court documents.

His lawyer calls the allegations meritless.

The suspect, identified as Sylvester Chase from New Jersey, was charged with sex abuse under a state law against sexual contact with someone who's "physically helpless."

Defense lawyer John Russo said the X-ray was administered in a busy radiology area. He questioned the reliability of the woman's account of events that allegedly transpired while she slept.      

Manhattan prosecutors declined to comment on their evidence in the case.