Woman sexually assaulted by fellow patient at Denton hospital, report finds
A female patient was sexually assaulted by a male patient at University Behavioral Health Denton, according to a federal inspection report.
The report, which was completed in March, found that University Behavioral Health failed to keep both patients safe.
In February, the female patient was found naked laying down on the floor of the male patient’s bathroom, according to the report. When staff entered the room, the male patient was pulling his pants back on, according to the inspection. The female patient said “she was raped by the male patient,” according to the report.
In a statement, hospital CEO Matthew Bertagnole said: “I can confirm that University Behavioral Health – Denton is in compliance with all regulatory requirements. We take regulatory surveys seriously and we approach them as opportunities for continuous improvement.”
The inspection found that the female patient had entered the male patient’s room “without staff knowledge or supervision” before the assault happened.
A staff member told the surveyor that no employee was reprimanded in connection with the assault.
Between Jan. 1 and March 20, there were 65 incidents that involved “sexually acting out behavior” at University Behavioral Health, according to the inspection. A staff member reported the hospital was short staffed and unable to adequately supervise patients.
This isn’t the first time University Behavioral Health has been cited for patients engaging in sexual behavior.
In December, inspectors found the hospital failed five patients their right to receive care in a safe setting. In November, one patient accused her roommate of raping her while she was half asleep in bed, according to the inspection report. The patients later reported that the incident was consensual.
A staff member told inspectors that staff were conducting rounds at the time of the incident, but “they were not changing their routine and they were predictable with their rounding, causing the patients to know when the staff were going to come into their room and check on them.”
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 10:34 AM.
