A Franklin County man working as a patient transporter at Riverside Methodist Hospital has been arrested and charged with gross sexual imposition after a patient reported a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in her hospital room.
Boukhmis Baziz, 45, of Columbus, was booked into the Franklin County jail on Aug. 17, 2026, according to public records from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony, in Franklin County Municipal Court case 26CRA13996. His next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 27, 2026, for a preliminary hearing. Jail records list his assigned location as the James A. Karnes facility. Bond information was listed as not set in the sheriff’s booking details available at the time of reporting.
According to a police complaint report, the incident occurred Sunday evening, Aug. 16, 2026, at Riverside Methodist Hospital, part of the OhioHealth system. The woman told police that at approximately 8:46 p.m., Baziz entered her room and began massaging her calves. She said she pulled away and told him to stop touching her.
The report states that Baziz then brought her snacks. After she accepted them and set them aside, he allegedly grabbed her arms, pinned her down, got on top of her, and began kissing her. When she tried to scream, he reportedly placed his hand over her mouth and said, “Don’t fight me. Relax. I’m not trying to hurt you.” The woman said he also attempted to grope her body before she freed one arm and pushed him away. Baziz then left the room abruptly, according to the account. The alleged assault lasted about a minute. The woman reported bruising on her right arm.
Hospital security footage showed Baziz entering the room at 8:46 p.m. and leaving about 12 minutes later, the complaint report notes.
An OhioHealth spokesperson confirmed the organization is aware of the alleged incident involving a transport associate. The spokesperson said OhioHealth is fully cooperating with the Columbus Division of Police. The associate has been removed from all OhioHealth facilities pending the outcome of the investigation and is not currently working at the hospital. The statement noted that patient safety is a priority.
Under Ohio law, gross sexual imposition under Revised Code Section 2907.05 generally involves sexual contact under circumstances that include the use of force or threat of force. A fourth-degree felony conviction carries a possible prison term of six to 18 months and a fine of up to $5,000, along with potential sex offender registration requirements. These are potential penalties only; Baziz has not been convicted of any crime and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case remains under investigation by the Columbus Division of Police. No additional charges have been publicly reported at this time. Court proceedings are scheduled to continue in Franklin County Municipal Court.
This report is based solely on publicly available Franklin County Sheriff’s Office booking records, the police complaint report details referenced in court filings, and the official statement from OhioHealth.
