Missoula, MT – Aaron Gams, a former nurse at St. Peters Health, made his initial appearance in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court on December 31, 2023, after being charged with felony abuse of a vulnerable adult.
The charges stem from an alleged incident that occurred in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St. Peters Health in 2023, where Gams was responsible for the care of a female patient.
According to court documents, the patient, who was hospitalized due to a serious illness, was in and out of consciousness and hallucinating from both her condition and the medications she was receiving.
The patient claims that during this time, Gams engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct, including rubbing her back, reaching through her hospital gown, and fondling her breasts.
The situation came to light several months later, when the patient received text messages from an unknown number in September 2023.
The messages, later identified as being from Gams, included personal and intimate remarks such as, “Hi, it’s Aaron from SPH. I hope you’ve been well. I’ve been thinking about you…”
When the patient questioned whether they had a physical and emotional connection, Gams allegedly responded affirmatively, expressing a desire to reconnect. Gams’s texts reportedly included statements like,
“I’m so glad you remember that, I was hoping you did! I’m curious if the time/space is right to see if reconnecting is possible?”
He also expressed concern about the potential consequences of his actions on his professional, legal, and marital status, admitting he was “so sorry” and apologizing for causing the patient any distress.
The patient, realizing that the contact she had recalled during her hospitalization was not a result of her hallucinations, contacted law enforcement. Gams was subsequently charged with felony abuse of a vulnerable adult.
Bond for Gams has been set at $50,000, and he will enter a plea during his appearance in Montana District Court.
If convicted, Gams could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. In addition to the criminal charges, Gams’s nursing license has been suspended by the Montana Board of Nursing pending further investigation into the allegations.
