WPBF-TV reported Sunday, along with numerous other local outlets, that a recovery room nurse who worked at Palms Wellington Surgical Center is facing charges of sexual battery of two female patients at the outpatient location in Royal Palm Beach, Fla., according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Joel Vega, 34, of Lake Worth, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail Friday. In his court appearance Saturday, bond was set at $25,000 for each of the two charges, which the Boca Raton Tribune reports included sexual battery and misdemeanor battery, with his next appearance set for March 22. He was released from custody Saturday night, having been ordered not to have any contact with the victims.
Detectives had initiated an investigation into the allegations and established probable cause, according to the sheriff’s office, which had not released an arrest report at the time of the media reports. The sheriff’s office added that detectives believe there may be additional victims, and are asking victims and anyone else who has information to contact them, with the option to remain anonymous, at 561-688-4147, alvarezl@pbso.org or Crime Stoppers at 800-458-TIPS.
