Charges Filed Against Nursing Assistant for Sexual Harassment and Assault

The Washington State Department of Health has issued a formal Statement of Charges against Manuel Alcala, a Sequim-based nursing assistant employed by State Operated Living Alternatives in Yakima. The document outlines a sustained pattern of sexual harassment, assault, and workplace intimidation spanning over three years, beginning around April 2020.

Investigators from the Department’s Nursing Assistant Program described Alcala’s conduct as creating a “highly toxic and predatory” atmosphere among staff. His behaviors reportedly escalated over time, evolving from casual comments to invasive physical contact and public displays.

Repeated Invasions and Explicit Overtures

According to the charging document, Alcala routinely made unsolicited observations about coworkers’ physical attributes and pressed them for details about their romantic and sexual lives. He developed a habit of sharing adult-themed digital content without prompting, distributing links and videos to multiple staff members. At times, he offered personal items such as sex toys, encouraging recipients to film themselves as part of the experience.

In one notable incident, he presented coworkers with wedding rings—unprompted—and on January 6, 2024, played explicit video content on a client’s tablet in a shared living space. When a colleague requested he pause the video, he instead linked the device to the home’s Bluetooth system and continued broadcasting while directing pointed remarks toward her.

Targeted Physical Abuse of One Staff Member

The most serious allegations focus on repeated physical and sexual contact with a single coworker, designated “Coworker A,” occurring over a seven-month span beginning in mid-2023. Documentation indicates Alcala confined her in a client’s bedroom on multiple occasions, blocking her exit while advancing sexually. On at least one visit, he tried removing her pants and tugged at her undergarments; on another, after most staff had left for the day, he inserted his hand beneath her clothing and performed digital penetration.

The dynamic extended beyond the facility’s walls. During group outings with clients, Alcala allegedly seated Coworker A on his lap without consent and, on a separate occasion, reached under her clothing while in motion. On return trips, he positioned himself beside her, rubbing her thighs and attempting to unfasten her pants.

One confrontation occurred while Coworker A was at the wheel: Alcala reportedly demanded she reveal her chest, then pulled her shirt and bra down himself before grasping her bare breast. Another recorded episode involved a massage in which he accessed her lower body—touching her buttocks, inner thighs, and genital region—while her pants were lowered.

Culture of Fear and Client Impact

Alcala reportedly dismissed concerns raised by coworkers, often attributing his actions to humor and dismissing objections as overreactions. His response to pushback reportedly included dismissive laughter and statements such as “I was just kidding,” followed by continuation of the behavior.

The Department’s findings note that his conduct fostered a climate of apprehension among staff, many of whom hesitated to report incidents due to anticipated retaliation. Alleged retaliation tactics included veiled threats of physical confrontation, professional consequences, and public discredit.

Patient well-being also appears to have been affected. At one point, Alcala allegedly locked a coworker out of a client’s residence during a critical window—potentially exposing vulnerable residents to unmonitored conditions while staff were temporarily excluded.

Alcala, who obtained his active nursing assistant-registered credential in February 2019, faces allegations of unprofessional conduct under Revised Code of Washington 18.130.180(1). This statute addresses behaviors involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption. He is currently undergoing disciplinary review, with potential sanctions pending from the state licensing board.

Republish this story

Our stories are free to republish, online or in print, under these conditions:

  • Credit The Real Olympic Herald and the author, and include a live link to the original piece.
  • Minor edits for style, length, or recency are permitted.
  • For online republication, use our canonical URL to ensure proper attribution by search engines.
  • The story may not be sold or leveraged predominantly for advertising purposes.

Copy story HTML

Questions? Contact us.