Town of Dover hospital employee accused of punching, stomping on 12-year-old patient

RACINE COUNTY -- An employee at the Lakeview Specialty Hospital in the Town of Dover, has been charged after allegedly stomping on a 12-year-old patient and punching her in the head several times.

According to a criminal complaint, on Thursday, March 10th a caretaker at the hospital heard a 12-year-old patient calling for help. She stated to police she found that odd because she knew the child was having one-on-one time with another employee, 27-year-old Laura Bahena.

Authorities say the caretaker went to see what was happening, at which time she observed Bahena with the child, who was hiding under a sleeping bag on a mattress on the floor.

The caretaker told police she witnessed Bahena stomping on the patient and punching her in the head multiple times. She also saw Bahena drag the child across the room on the mattress and continued to hit her.

According to the criminal complaint, the 12-year-old patient has cognitive delays and functions at the level of a 10-year-old.

The 12-year-old girl stated to authorities the assault caused her pain, rating the pain as 10 out of 10.

27-year-old Laura Bahena has been charged with the following counts: