By Eileen Persike
MMC STAFF
RHINELANDER – A Three Lakes man has been arrested for allegedly possessing video of an unclothed adult patient at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander without gaining the patient’s consent.
Evan Sheedy, 31, a hospital employee, made his first appearance in Oneida County court on Wednesday, Feb. 24. He is charged with two Class I felonies related to invading privacy and video recording the victim. Cash bond was set at $5,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim, not to leave the state, not to enter any medical facility premises and not to practice any type of medicine.
Captain Terri Hook with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office stated the Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Three Lakes Police Department were acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when they served a search warrant for possession of child pornography at Sheedy’s residence.
During the search, no child pornography was found, but investigators did find a video of the adult hospital patient.
The Sheriff’s Office has identified and notified the patient. Ascension issued a statement following the arrest.
“Leadership at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital is aware of the arrest of an associate,” the statement said. “Matters of patient safety and security are our highest priority and we have launched an internal investigation and are fully cooperating with authorities. Until the investigation is complete, the associate is suspended from all work duties.”
Hook stated that no other videos have been found, and the investigation is continuing.
Sheedy is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, March 19 for a preliminary hearing.