ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. — A recovery room nurse is accused of sexually battering two women while on the job, and deputies said there could be more victims.
Joel Vega, 34, of Lake Worth, who works at Palms Wellington Surgical Center in Royal Palm Beach, was arrested Friday.
WATCH BELOW: Nurse accused of sexual battery; detectives fear more victims
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said it received two complaints about Vega's conduct.
Detectives investigated the allegations against Vega and found probable cause, prompting his arrest.
The first alleged incident occurred on Feb. 5 when the victim went to Palms Wellington for wrist surgery.
The woman told investigators that when she woke up from the procedure, Vega touched her genitals with his hand beneath her underwear. She also accused Vega of keeping her groggy with morphine despite what the patient's family described as her "extreme aversion to medication."
The second alleged incident occurred when a woman went to Palms Wellington for knee surgery on Feb. 13. She told investigators that Vega touched her breasts and genitals. When she "attempted to punch the nurse" in self-defense. She said Vega "grabbed her right hand … and pulled (it) toward his (groin)."
The sheriff's office said there may be additional victims.
The sheriff's office told WPTV on Tuesday that after Vega was arrested last week, a third alleged victim has come forward. However, no new charges have been filed at this time as the investigation remains active.
"The main reason that has happened is because of our trust in people in medicine, our belief that they are there to help us," said Mike Arias, a trial attorney who specializes in cases involving sexual misconduct in medical settings. "If you're going to be putting a patient in a room with someone else, you better make sure that person you put them in that room with has been fully vetted."
Vega had his initial court appearance on Saturday, where bond was set at $25,000. Part of the bond conditions is no contact with the victim.
Online jail records show he posted bail and was released from custody on Saturday night.
His next court date is set for March 22.
Anyone with information or who may have been a victim of Vega is urged to contact Detective L. Alvarez at 561-688-4147, AlvarezL@pbso.org or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.
Tipsters may remain anonymous.
According to records kept by the Florida Department of Health, Vega's registered nurse license was originally issued in 2021 and remains active. The records show no emergency actions, discipline cases or public complaints against Vega. A search of public records reveals no criminal history before this investigation.
