A pharmacy delivery man who allegedly sexually assaulted an 83-year-old woman with dementia in her Bethesda home in January was released Friday on a $25,000 bond, according to digital court records.
Yuriy Ravdugin, 65, of Bethesda allegedly entered the woman’s home on East-West Highway during a Jan. 10 delivery and started “forcibly touching her,” according to Montgomery County police.
Police said that officers responded to the home later that day for a report of sexual assault.
The person who informed police about the incident was a family member and caretaker for the woman, who had been diagnosed with dementia, requiring constant supervision and care, according to charging documents.
In September 2023, the family member installed surveillance cameras inside the victim’s apartment to easily monitor her condition.
On the day of the incident, another caretaker, who was with the woman daily, logged into the surveillance footage remotely and witnessed the assault taking place, according to charging documents.
Surveillance footage shows the woman opening her front door and then Ravdugin allegedly entering her apartment, putting his arm around her and holding her close to him, despite her pushing him away, charging documents said.
Then, while Ravdugin allegedly tried to kiss her, she moved her head away, and when he allegedly put a hand underneath her shirt, she used her hand to remove it, according to charging documents.
The caretaker utilized the audio speakerphone feature of the surveillance camera to tell Ravdugin to stop and then notified the family member, who called 911, charging documents stated.
In an interview with police, the daily caretaker identified the man in the video footage as Ravdugin, who routinely delivered prescription medications to the woman’s residence through a pharmacy company and was aware of her declining mental capacity, according to charging documents.
Ravdugin was arrested Jan. 17 while making deliveries in Takoma Park, police said.
His case began in the District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County and then was transferred to the Montgomery County Circuit Court where he was indicted on Feb. 15 for a third-degree sex offense, according to digital court records.
In bond hearings on Jan. 18 and Feb. 20, judges ordered Ravdugin to be held without bond, but he had another bond hearing on Friday after his attorney filed a motion on Feb. 26 to alter his bond status, according to digital court records.
During Friday’s hearing, Circuit Court Judge Christopher Fogelman decided to release him on a $25,000 unsecured personal bond, which was posted that same day, digital court records indicate. His trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 13, according to court records.
Ravdugin’s attorney, Matthew Bennett, was unable to immediately comment on Tuesday.