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Dino Carlo Gioia, 77, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 9, and charged with sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, unlawful restraint, and breach of peace, after he turned himself in on an active warrant at the Fairfield Police Department, said Capt. Robert Kalamaras.
An investigation into the attack began on Dec. 24, 2019, after the child's parent reported the incident to a staff member at Regal Care of Southport, said Kalamaras.
According to Kalamaras, the girl was visiting a grandparent when she was approached by Gioia who then inappropriately touched the girl.
NBC News Connecticut reported that Gioia took the girl around the waist, pulled her toward him and grabbed her privates, saying she was beautiful.
Police had reportedly responded to the nursing home multiple times for reports of alleged inappropriate sexual behavior by Gioia.
The accusations included he exposed himself and touched dementia patients in intimate areas and had threatened to rape another patient, the news channel reported.
Gioia had been a patient for about a month when he allegedly attacked the child.
He is being held on $100,000 bond “due to the severity of the charges,” and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 27.
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