Former Pennsylvania Nurse Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Patient at State Hospital
A former Pennsylvania nurse has pleaded guilty after admitting to sexually assaulting a patient at Torrance State Hospital, bringing an end to a criminal case that has drawn serious concerns over patient safeguarding in mental health facilities.
Dana Coxon, 40, formerly of Greensburg, entered a guilty plea this week to institutional sexual assault and bringing contraband into a secure facility, according to prosecutors in Westmoreland County. The case involved a male patient in his mid-20s who was enrolled in the hospital’s Sexual Responsibility Treatment Program.
Authorities said the inappropriate relationship began in February 2025 and continued for around seven months before it was uncovered.
Investigators say Coxon met the patient while working on his treatment unit and allegedly engaged in repeated sexual encounters with him inside hospital bathrooms and other restricted areas. Court records show the pair reportedly met several times a week.
The case came to light after hospital officials noticed suspicious activity on security footage.
According to investigators, Coxon was seen entering a bathroom in a section of the hospital where she was not assigned to work. The patient was later seen entering the same area shortly after.
The footage raised concerns, prompting staff to investigate further.
Police later discovered a mobile phone inside the patient’s room that contained photographs and videos showing sexual acts between the nurse and the patient.
Authorities also allege Coxon had brought outside food, drinks, and the phone into the facility — leading to the contraband charge.
Under Pennsylvania law, institutional sexual assault is treated as a serious criminal offence because patients in secure treatment settings are considered unable to legally consent to sexual relationships with staff due to the imbalance of power and duty of care.
Even if a relationship appears consensual, healthcare workers can still face criminal and regulatory consequences because of their position of authority.
Following the initial charges earlier this year, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing temporarily suspended Coxon’s nursing licence.
She later resigned from her position at Torrance State Hospital, where she had only been employed since May 2024.
As part of her plea agreement, Coxon now faces up to two years of probation, including 10 months of house arrest when she returns to court for sentencing on July 27.
The court also ordered her to undergo outpatient psychological therapy and register as a sex offender for 15 years.
The case has raised fresh questions about patient protection inside psychiatric and secure treatment facilities, where vulnerable individuals often rely entirely on staff for care, supervision, and support.
Professional regulators treat sexual misconduct involving patients as one of the most serious breaches of nursing ethics because it undermines trust and can cause long-term psychological harm.
For healthcare professionals, the consequences can extend far beyond criminal court.
In cases like this, regulatory bodies often move to permanently revoke licences, ending careers in the profession.
The Torrance case adds to a growing number of incidents across the U.S. involving nurses and healthcare workers accused of exploiting vulnerable patients.
As sentencing approaches later this month, the case remains another stark reminder of the strict professional boundaries expected in healthcare — especially when working with patients in secure mental health settings.
