The Florida Department of Health has issued an emergency order to suspend the nursing license of an Ocala stepmother who is accused of having sex with her teenage stepson.
On Friday, April 25, the state issued an order of emergency suspension of the license of Alexis Yates, a registered nurse who is facing a charge of sexual battery on a person 12 to 18 years of age by a person in familial custody.
“Nurses are placed in a position of trust; therefore, it is imperative that they demonstrate good judgment and good moral character. Ms. Yates’ decision to engage in sexual activity with a minor child and/or her decision to allow a child to engage her in oral and penetrative sex indicates that she lacks the good judgment and moral character necessary to be a registered nurse,” reads the state’s order.
The document goes on to state that Yates’ continued practice as a nurse “presents a risk of immediate, serious danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.”
According to the state, Yates’ arrest constitutes a violation of the Florida Statutes, relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons younger than 16 years of age.
“The Department is mandated to summarily suspend Ms. Yates’ license to practice as a registered nurse in accordance with section 456.074(5).”
Yates’ license has been “immediately suspended,” as of April 25, according to the order.
Additionally, a proceeding seeking the “formal discipline” of Yates’ license will be “prompty instituted and acted upon” by the state soon, according to the order.
According to the state’s order, Yates may still file a petition for review so long as she provides a copy of that petition to the state.
Yates was allegedly caught having sex with her stepson by her husband in July 2024, when the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip that a woman, later identified as Yates, had engaged in sexual activity with her husband’s biological son.
In November, she was arrested on a charge of sexual battery of a minor. According to Yates’ arrest report, several of the victim’s relatives discouraged him from disclosing what allegedly occurred with Yates, who pled not guilty to the charge last December.
Earlier this year, Yates’ attorneys requested a continuance to allow their team the opportunity to conduct depositions and build a defense for their client.
Earlier this month, Yates’ attorneys took the deposition of a digital forensic examiner.