Ohio nurse acquitted of abuse

The Associated Press

CLEVELAND ­ A Cleveland Clinic nurse has been acquitted of sexually abusing surgery patients at the research hospital.

After two days of deliberations, a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court jury returned innocent verdicts Friday on all 17 counts in the case against Steven Booth, 43, of suburban Macedonia.

He had been charged with rape, gross sexual imposition and patient abuse involving four women patients.

Booth's lawyer, John Pyle, had argued that the women were unaccustomed to male nurses and were impaired by anesthesia and painkillers.

Assistant Prosecutor John Kosko speculated that Pyle's argument about impairment was persuasive but added, "I don't think four people can hallucinate that kind of conduct against the same person."

Booth said the verdicts speak for themselves. He declined further comment.

The clinic, which had suspended Booth after the allegations surfaced, said it was pleased that the matter had been resolved.