Stephanie Paiz faces four felony sex-crime charges after investigators said security video captured the alleged assault at a senior living facility.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A judge has ordered an Albuquerque caregiver accused of sexually assaulting a 77-year-old man with dementia to remain in custody while her criminal case proceeds, according to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office.
Stephanie Paiz is charged with three counts of criminal sexual penetration and one count of criminal sexual contact. Prosecutors said the allegations stem from an Aug. 14 incident involving an elderly resident at Ativo Senior Living in northwest Albuquerque. The charges are allegations, and Paiz has not been convicted.
Investigators said Paiz was supposed to be caring for the 77-year-old man when she went into his room and locked the door. Authorities allege she then sexually assaulted him. The District Attorney’s Office said security video inside the resident’s room captured the incident. Because the case involves an allegation of sexual abuse against a vulnerable adult, details of the alleged assault are being reported with restraint.
An employee at the senior living facility became aware of what was happening and rushed to unlock the room, according to prosecutors. The employee intervened and stopped the alleged assault, the District Attorney’s Office said. Officials have not publicly identified the resident, and his name is being withheld because he is the alleged victim of a sexual assault.
Local radio station KKOB reported that Paiz had been hired by the man’s family to provide care while he was living at Ativo Senior Living. The facility offers assisted living and memory care services in Albuquerque, including specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Publicly available information did not establish that Paiz was directly employed by Ativo.
The District Attorney’s Office announced this week that a judge ruled Paiz should remain detained as the case moves through the judicial process. The office did not identify the judge in the material reviewed or provide additional details about the court’s reasoning for keeping her in custody.
The four charges against Paiz remain pending. Prosecutors have not announced a trial date or publicly released additional information about future hearings in the material reviewed. No verified public statement from Paiz or an attorney representing her was available in the sources consulted.
The case remains active in Bernalillo County, with Paiz staying in custody under the judge’s detention ruling as prosecutors pursue the criminal charges. Further court proceedings will determine how the allegations are resolved.
Author note: Last updated August 22, 2026.