Watch CBS News

OC Man Allegedly Assaulted Female Roommate With Down Syndrome

SANTA ANA (CBS) — A Garden Grove man accused of assaulting his female roommate with Down Syndrome by kicking her in the head and torso faced possible prison time on Thursday.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports Richard Vu Nguyen was allegedly seen committing the violent attack on surveillance footage.

Podcast

Nguyen, 45, is accused of entering the room of 45-year-old Jane Doe amid suspicions by her family of possible abuse.

"The family suspected that there was something going on between the defendant and the victim and they had set up a video camera, so this attack was captured on video and they submitted that video to the Garden Grove Police Department for investigation," said Orange County District Attorney's office spokeswoman Farrah Emami.

On at least one occasion between March 31, 2011, and April 9, 2011, Nguyen allegedly entered Doe's room, jumped onto her bed, and kicked her in the head and upper torso before fleeing the scene.

Family members of the victim — whose disability includes an an inability to verbally communicate — then handed over the video and reported the abuse to police.

Nguyen is charged with one felony count of dependent adult abuse and faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison if convicted.

Prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will use the video footage as evidence in the trial. No motive for the attack has been disclosed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.