A former EvergreenHealth hospital nurse in Monroe was charged with four felonies earlier this month after he allegedly sexually assaulted several patients who were in his care.
Stephen Odingo, 61, was charged with four counts of indecent liberties and is scheduled to appear for an arraignment in Snohomish County on Oct. 7, according to court documents obtained by The Seattle Times.
In July 2024, one of Odingo’s patients reported his behavior to hospital staff, but he was allowed to keep practicing until two more patients came forward and reported his behavior in January 2025.
Odingo received a suspension after the third incident was reported, prompting the hospital to open an internal investigation. During the investigation, Odingo submitted a resignation letter.
In a statement, EvergreenHealth said that Odingo was “no longer employed” and that “patient safety and the trust our community places in our care are of the utmost importance,” according to The Seattle Times.
When asked whether EvergreenHealth had taken any disciplinary action against the nurse after the first reported incident, beyond removing him as the patient’s care provider, the hospital said it couldn’t comment further because of the ongoing lawsuit.
Patient allegations prompted 911 call, police investigation
The latest incident involving Odingo occurred on Jan. 22, 2025, when the chief nursing officer at the hospital called 911 reporting that he had sexually assaulted a patient. The caller also told police that there had been two previous complaints against him.
The patient told police that due to a recent shoulder surgery, she was unable to move around the room or use the restroom on her own. Odingo cleaned and touched the patient’s genital area without her permission, the patient told police, according to The Seattle Times.
In one instance, the patient said Odingo hugged her after she thanked him for his care, and Odingo whispered in her ear, “Maybe you can take care of me sometime,” and kissed her on the lips while wearing a mask. Odingo tried to hug and kiss her another time, and the patient said “no” and turned away from him.
Police interviewed another patient who had reported Odingo for his behavior in July 2024. The patient said he asked her to remove all of her clothes on several occasions when it wasn’t necessary for her to do so. The patient said Odingo then sexually touched her, and she thought he might rape her.
After the patient told her fiancée, Odingo was removed from her care. A complaint was filed, and emails reviewed by police showed that hospital staff had questioned Odingo. Staff told him that there should be another person present for “sensitive cares” with female patients, according to The Seattle Times.
Another patient reported unwanted contact days before nurse’s suspension
Another patient reported Odingo to hospital staff on Jan. 17, telling police that he was frequently inside her hospital room and tried to hold and hug her multiple times.
The patient said that Odingo asked to do a full-body check on her. After he asked the patient to remove her bra, she refused before he made an attempt to do it himself. She reported Odingo to hospital staff, who then removed him from her care.
Odingo’s license to be a registered nurse appears to remain active, according to The Seattle Times, but his practical nurse and nursing assistant credentials have expired.
Police made contact with Odingo at his Marysville home in October 2025, and he asked for an attorney, declining to give a recorded statement, according to court documents obtained by The Seattle Times.