Firefighter pleads guilty to sexually abusing St. Tammany nursing home resident

A former Bogalusa firefighter will spend 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a St. Tammany Parish nursing home resident.

According to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office, Brandon Applewhite admitted to one count of molestation of a victim with a physical or mental disability and one count of sexual battery. After Applewhite's prison sentence is completed, he will be required to register as a sex offender.

District Attorney Colin Sims says authorities found photos of an elderly woman who was nude and being touched inappropriately on Applewhite's cell phone. Sims also says authorities found text messages between Applewhite and a nursing home employee in which the employee agreed to send "illicit photographs" of that woman. Authorities later learned that the victim was a resident at the nursing home at which the employee worked.

Sims did not provide information about the nursing home employee or if she is facing any charges.