State orders Port Orange assisted living facility to close after sex assault allegations

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — Families in Port Orange are trying to find where to move their loved ones after the state ordered the closure of a Volusia County assisted living facility in light of claims that residents were being sexually abused.

According to these documents obtained by Channel 9's Jeff Levkulich from the Agency for Health Care Administration, officials allege the administrator at Grace Manor in Port Orange turned a blind eye when it came to a male resident who had been allegedly sexually assaulting female residents since May.

ACHA said none of the incidents were documented, and there were no investigations.

Neither police nor the Department of Children and Families were called in to investigate.

One of the solutions to keep the man away from the women was to lock residents in their room at night. But officials said that could have had disastrous consequences if a fire were to break out.

Levkulich was told to leave the building when he tried to talk to management.

"We are just trying to find out what's going to happen to the people here," he said.

Management handed Levkulich a statement from Tod Petty, president of Thrive Senior Living:

“The safety of our residents is always a top priority. We understand the seriousness of this issue.  This is why we have already made some internal steps.  But we continue to review our policies and procedures and will make changes as needed.”

A resident's wife, Kathy Catsantonis, said she was looking for a new place for her husband.

"I'm shocked. The place is fabulous. I mean, it's immaculate. I'm just shocked," she said.

An employee told Levkulich they are working to keep Grace Manor open.

It is not the first time Grace Manor has been investigated. Investigators said a nursing assistant admitted to sexually battering three elderly women in 2015, but Channel 9 learned that prosecutors dropped the charges against him.

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