Overview
- Police say the assaults occurred on Feb. 5 and Feb. 13 in the recovery area at Palms Wellington Surgical Center in Royal Palm Beach, involving elderly patients recovering from surgery.
- One victim was described as conscious but unable to move or respond, highlighting post-operative vulnerability documented in the reports.
- The arrest documents detail invasive touching under clothing, lifting a patient's underwear, restraining her, and forcing unwanted contact through the nurse's scrub pants.
- Joel Vega, 34, of Lake Worth, is charged with two counts of sexual assault and was released on a $25,000 bond, with a court date set for March 22.
- Detectives believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, while the surgical center has not provided comment or clarified Vega's employment status.