Nurse admits his guilt in sex assault of patient

Kwajalein Hospital nurse Dennis Henry, accused of drugging and raping a drunk Coast Guardsman who was on shore leave, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Thursday to sexually assaulting the incapacitated sailor.

"I had sex with (the victim) without his consent because he was intoxicated," Henry said.

Henry, 38, pleaded guilty in a deal with the prosecutor in exchange for a two-year prison term. The prosecutor also promised to drop a second charge accusing Henry of drugging, then sexually assaulting the guardsman. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

If U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Koba­ya­shi chooses to not go along with the plea agreement at sentencing in April, Henry will be free to withdraw his guilty plea.

The FBI said Henry spiked the guardsman’s beer with Ambien, then sexually assaulted him March 25 on Kwajalein island.

Kwajalein, about 2,100 nautical miles southwest of Hono­lulu, is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Army leases most of the island for the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site. A contractor operates Kwajalein Hospital.