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Employee Accused of Sexually Abusing Patients at Mental Health Center

NICHOLAI ANTHONY BRIEf | Pinellas Park Police | Arrests

The three women were at the clinic for mental health services, Pinellas Park police said.

PINELLAS PARK – A staff member at a mental health facility was arrested in connection with charges that he sexually molested three patients while they were there seeking care, the Pinellas Park Police Department said.

Nicholai Anthony Brief, 34, of St. Petersburg, was charged with three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of Elderly/Disabled Person and one count of Sexual Battery. The charges, once
presented to the State Attorney’s Office, may be enhanced because of the mental state of the women.

The Pinellas Park department received reports on March 14 that multiple sexual battery incidents had occurred at Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services, 11254 58th St. N in Pinellas Park.

The initial report was that a staff member had engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with multiple patients. Police said they investigated the claims and found that there were three adult victims. The allegations from these women included sexual battery and lewd or lascivious molestation committed upon and in the presence of an elderly or disabled person. The suspect, Brief, was in a position of trust and authority over the three women who were at PEMHS for mental health services/assistance.

One woman told officers Brief had sexually battered her while she was being admitted to PEMHS. According to the arrest affidavit, she said Brief grabbed her arm and pushed her into a dark room against a wall. He then placed his hand under her clothing. When he was finished abusing her, the affidavit says that he walked her out of the room while holding her arm and told her how to get to the wing where she was to be admitted. She told police Brief said nothing during the incident.

One of the women said Brief came into her room and grabbed her breasts. According to the arrest affidavit, Brief denied touching her breasts but admitted he had an inappropriate conversation with her on Facebook Messenger during which he asked to see her breasts and asked her to send him sexually explicit pictures.

Brief was also accused of groping a woman’s breasts while she was sleeping in her room. The affidavit states that he said, “You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?” She told officers she pulled away when Brief tried to touch her private parts.

This investigation is ongoing.

Pinellas Park police are asking that any clients of PEMHS who believes they were a victim of any sexual misconduct by Nicholai Brief to contact the department at (727) 369-7864.

Pinellas Park Police | Crime | PEMHS | Arrests | Tampabay News

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