Caregiver accused of sexual assault was hired from a social media ad

A 72-year-old woman is speaking out after hiring someone for help online lead to criminal behavior.

“I don’t think people should do what I did,” she said. “I actually put room for rent and I figured then you could talk to anybody and then say well you don’t have to pay rent you can do work.”

She posted an ad on Facebook, which said she needed a hand around her house. James Stevenson, a stranger, answered the ad.

But now, he is behind bars.

On Monday, Collier County Sheriff Deputies arrested him. He is facing battery charges.

“I don’t like being treated that way,” she said.

Reports show while Stevenson, 37-years-old, was living in the house, he groped the woman’s chest and gave her rear end a smack.

“That was just so disgusting,” the woman said, whose name is confidential because she is a victim of sexual assault. “I knew then i couldn’t help him.”

Report show Stevenson told deputies none of that is true. But the woman’s son said he watched it all happen.

“It is a complete betrayal of trust,” Clarke Pollard said, from Caregiver Support Network.

An expert from Caregiver Support Network said anytime you are hiring help, “don’t rely on an ad on Craigslist or a well mean friend referral,” Pollard said.

The best way to hire a caregiver of any kind is to use an agency — don’t go through something private.

“That way if you’re using an agency you get a person coming into your home who has background checked,” Pollard  said. “Agency itself is licensed and bonded and that person represents that company so you have an area of recourse if you need it.”