A Placer County hospice chaplain is headed to state prison for five years after pleading no contest to charges that he sexually assaulted a 76-year-old hospice patient, according to the victim’s family. Relatives say a camera they quietly installed to monitor their loved one recorded the attack, and they say the woman died days later. They are calling the sentence a small measure of justice and say they now plan to focus on helping other survivors speak up.
According to FOX40, Arthur Apgar entered a no-contest plea and received a five-year sentence on Friday. The family told the station that Apgar is expected to stay at the Sacramento County Main Jail for roughly two weeks before being moved to a state facility to serve his term. They said the plea and sentence bring a sense of closure but stressed that they are committed to advocating for other potential victims.
How investigators say it happened
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said Apgar was arrested in August 2024 on four counts of sexual battery against a person who is seriously disabled or medically incapacitated, according to a news release cited by Folsom Times. The family-installed camera reportedly captured at least one assault. KCRA 3 reported that the victim, identified by relatives as Cathy Yopp, died shortly after the alleged attack. Sheriff’s detectives told the station they believe Apgar had access to patients at multiple hospice facilities and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Family speaks out
David Yopp told FOX40 that the assault “took away the victim’s dignity in her final moments.” William Garrett, the victim’s son, described Cathy Yopp as “loving, beautiful, creative, intelligent” and said the family is determined to ensure other survivors are heard and supported.
What authorities are asking
Investigators are urging anyone who believes they may have been harmed by Apgar, or who has information about his conduct, to contact the sheriff’s Sexual and Elder Abuse Bureau at 916-874-5070 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers, as reported by KCRA 3. Detectives said tips can be made anonymously and encouraged families who installed cameras in care settings to review any footage or records of chaplain visits for suspicious activity…