A former worker at a residental care home for people with brain injuries has been charged with sexually assaulting a female patient.

Bruce Duane Nelson, a five-year employee at Solutions in Goleta Valley, was charged by the county District Attorney’s office with assault with intent to commit rape, sexual battery on an institutionalized victim and sexual penetration by foreign object.

In June, the Sheriff’s Department began investigating allegations that a Solutions employee had sexually assaulted a client. The victim reported that while she was a patient she was sexually assaulted on several occasions by Nelson, a night shift staff member, between April and June 2007.

Nelson was booked into county jail upon his arrest and later released, officials said.

Zaca Fire information

For regular updates about the Zaca Fire, the public can tune to the county’s government cable TV station, Channel 20, or the government TV stations for the city of Santa Barbara, Channel 18, or the city of Goleta, Channel 19. The following local radio stations will be broadcasting Zaca Fire news:

AM Stations: KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KUHL-1410 and KINF-1440.
FM Stations: KCSB-91.9; KSPE-94.5; KSYV-96.7; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7; KRAZ-105.9 and KIST-107.7.

Zaca Fire information kiosks are set up at the following locations:

Goleta City Hall; Camino Real Marketplace; Tucker’s Grove; Goleta Valley Community Center; Magnolia Shopping Center; Turnpike Center; Calle Real Center; Java Station, 4447 Hollister Ave.; Santa Barbara Mission; Santa Barbara City Hall.

In addition, motorists and residents in the San Marcos Pass area off Highway 154 can listen to AM 1040 (WQFI350) for updated emergency information. For specific updates on the Zaca Fire, the public can call the Zaca Fire Public Information Line at 805-961-5770 or go online to www.inciweb.org or www.countyofsb.org or www.sbcfire.com.

Red Cross offers disaster relief classes

In response to the Zaca Fire and to help prepare the community for disasters of any kind, the local Red Cross is offering disaster relief classes at Schott Center, 310 W. Padre St.

“Client Casework: Providing Emergency Assistance,” to prepare participants to do casework on a local, regional or national level, will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. “Red Cross volunteer Orientation,” required for all new volunteers for the agency, will be offered today from 3-4:15 p.m. More classes will be scheduled shortly according to Red Cross officials. For additional information, call 925-872-8573 or go to www.sbredcross.org.