New York anesthesiologist pleads guilty to drugging and raping his family's nanny; only has to serve four years in prison – Crime Online

A New York anesthesiologist pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his family's nanny while she was sleeping.

Paul Giacopelli, 60, will only spend four years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 20, thanks to a plea deal agreed to by Putnam County Judge Anthony Mole, LoHud.com reports. However, he will have to register as a sex offender and spend three to 10 years on probation after his release.

Giacopelli was caught drugging her live-in nanny using a camera she had installed behind a turtle tank in the living room where she was sleeping. After viewing the footage, she went to a hospital and then to the sheriff's office. He was arrested in December 2023.

A formal indictment followed in March. He was accused of sexually assaulting the victim four times and charged with eight counts. If convicted, he faced 15 years in prison. His guilty plea on Friday includes charges of first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree sexual assault.

Sheriff's Department investigator Keith Simone told the grand jury that Giacopelli admitted to using the anesthetic Sevuflorane on the victim, holding it over her mouth and nose until she was unconscious. He told investigators he had a “chloroform fetish” and targeted the nanny because she was a “deep sleeper.”

He also told investigators that he brought drugs home from Putnam Hospital Center, where he worked as chief anesthesiologist.

At the beginning of the year, the state Board for Professional Medical Conduct revoked Giacopelli's license to practice medicine.

The 25-year-old victim has filed suit against Giacopelli, his wife, Northwell Health, Putnam Hospital Center and Montefiore Nyack Hospital. The suit alleges that the hospitals' negligence allowed him to leave the hospital with the drugs he administered to the victim.

However, Montefiore Nyack Hospital filed an affidavit stating that Giacopelli had not been authorized to practice there since 2016. Health authorities filed a motion to dismiss him because the doctor's activities were outside the scope of his employment.

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[Featured image: Paul Giacopelli/police handout]