Paul Giacopelli (Putnam County Office of the District Attorney).
The chief anesthesiologist for a New York hospital chose to drug and abuse his family’s nanny as the “easiest target,” but that blew up in his face when the suspicious woman installed a surveillance camera and caught him in the act, according to authorities in a report from The Journal News. Prosecutors in Putnam County credited the 25-year-old woman for her bravery and willingness to testify against Paul Giacopelli, 60, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexual abuse in the first degree and assault in the second degree.
The defendant used to serve as chief anesthesiologist at Putnam County Hospital in the town of Carmel. Authorities said he drugged and abused the woman as she was sleeping on the couch of his home. Suspecting she was being abused, the nanny installed a surveillance camera behind a dehumidifier of a turtle tank of the living room. The indictment stated Giacopelli abused her four times.
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Sheriff’s Investigator Keith Simone testified in front of the grand jury that Giacopelli told him about having a “chloroform fetish.” The defendant said he considered the nanny the “easiest target” because she was a “heavy sleeper,” according to testimony. He admitted fondling her in multiple incidents in which he put a rag, infused with the anesthetic Sevuflorane, over her mouth and nose until she fell unconscious. Not only did he confess to bringing drugs from the hospital to home, but a search warrant turned up fentanyl and other substances.
According to online state records, the New York Department of Health precluded him from practicing medicine in the state “until either the final resolution of the matters under investigation or until such time as this order is modified or rescinded by the Director of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct.”
The woman has also reportedly sued Giacopelli, Northwell Health Inc., Putnam County Hospital and Montefiore Nyack Hospital. The hospitals argue that Giacopelli did not act in context of his work.
Sentencing in the criminal case is set for Nov. 12. As part of the plea, Giacopelli is expected to be sentenced for four years in prison with post-release supervision for up to 10 years. He must register as a sex offender.
“I’m very proud of the work of the Sheriff’s Department and ADA Lynch,” Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy said, “but I’m mostly proud of the victim’s courage in going through this process which led to the defendant’s arrest and conviction.”
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