2 Nursing Assistants Assaulted Patient At Berkeley Rehab Center: Cops

BERKELEY, NJ — Two certified nursing assistants (CNAs) assaulted a patient at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation Facility in Berkeley Township on Monday, authorities said.

The victim is in critical, but stable, condition, officials said.

Dhenmark Francisco, 28, of Toms River, and Jovi Esperanza, 31, of Beachwood, both employees at the center, were charged with aggravated assault in connection with the Oct. 14 incident, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Berkeley Police Chief Kevin Santucci announced in a news release.

The assault happened Monday shortly before noon and the victim was a 52-year-old patient, officials said. Details of the assault were not shared, but authorities said the patient was taken to Community Medical Center and then transferred to Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center for further treatment.

Francisco and Esperanza were identified as the CNAs responsible, officials said. Francisco was taken into custody at Crystal Lake on Tuesday and now sits at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Esperanza turned himself in that same day and was also taken to Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.