Former Emergency Room Nurse Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison For Sexually Abusing Three Patients

            WASHINGTON –Jared Kline a former emergency room staff nurse, was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for sexually abusing three patients in separate incidents at area hospitals, announced U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Peter Newsham, Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Kline, 39, of Springfield, Va., was found guilty by a jury in June 2016 of three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a patient, including two with aggravating circumstances. The verdicts followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Michael Ryan. The judge sentenced Kline to a total of 86 months in prison, but suspended all but 45 months of that time on the condition he successfully complete five years of probation.  Judge Ryan also imposed a period of 10 years of supervised release. During his supervised release, he may not work in any field involving contact with patients. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Kline was taken into custody today.

            “This defendant sexually abused victims at especially vulnerable times, when they were turning to him for treatment in hospital emergency rooms,” said U.S. Attorney Phillips. “Hopefully today’s sentence will deter this defendant and others from engaging in similar conduct and bring some relief to the women who were traumatized by his reprehensible acts.”

            According to the government’s evidence, between 2013 and 2014, Kline was a traveling nurse in the Washington, D.C. area, taking shifts in the emergency departments at various hospitals. In three separate instances, he intentionally thrust his penis against the victims’ hands while purporting to provide them with medical care. Two came forward soon after their release from the hospitals, while one reported while she was still at the hospital. All were interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            One incident took place early May 12, 2013, at the George Washington University Hospital. Another occurred on the evening of Dec. 28, 2013 at the Washington Hospital Center. The third incident took place late Aug. 23, 2014 at United Medical Center. According to the government’s evidence, each victim was very ill, alone, and extremely vulnerable in the emergency room. Each was under the medical care of the defendant. Kline was responsible for taking the victims’ vital signs, inserting their IV’s, and administering their medications. On each occasion, he began flirting with the victim. While it may have seemed inappropriate, the victims believed the flirting was meant to calm them and reduce their anxiety. Then, while inserting an IV or affixing a blood pressure cuff, Kline sexually assaulted the victim.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips and Interim Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and its Sexual Assault Unit. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jodi Lazarus, Christopher Macchiaroli, Chrisellen Kolb, Katherine Kelly, and Deborah Sines; Elizabeth Trosman, Chief of the Appellate Division; Victim/Witness Advocate Tracey Hawkins; Paralegal Specialists D’Yvonne Key and Tiffany Jones, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Park and John B. Timmer, who investigated and prosecuted the case.