Employees Charged With Abuse At East Brunswick Adult Daycare

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Employees of an East Brunswick adult day care facility were charged with physically abusing two of the "severely disabled" adults who go there, according to acting Middlesex County Prosecutor Chris Kuberiet.

Five employees at Broadway Respite and Home Care were indicted on the charges Tuesday. Asia Lunn, 22, Kenitra Hicks, 34, Kieasha Morgan 24, Hugo Lorenzo, 25, all of New Brunswick and Janella Allen, 31, of Elizabeth were indicted for two counts of abandonment and neglect of a disabled person and two counts of endangering another person, for two separate victims, both third-degree crimes.

Lunn was also indicted for one count of aggravated assault in the third degree.

The charges were announced Wednesday.

Prosecutors say that in May of this year, two severely disabled individuals who attended the adult day care were physically abused by the employees.

“In May, two incidents occurred on the same day at Broadway Respite and Home Care involving two adults attending the facility," said Todd Harrison, the lawyer representing the adult home. Harrison is with the law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

"Immediately upon learning about the incidents, the company took action – they reported to the police, they notified the relevant state agencies in New Jersey, they immediately put the relevant individuals on leave and commenced an internal investigation to determine the extent of the wrongdoing, which resulted in the termination of all the employees named in the indictment," he continued.

The indictment alleges the facility failed to act to protect the physical or mental health of the two disabled adult victims. Broadway Respite and Home Care, which also goes by the name Just Home Adult Medical Daycare, is located on Edgeboro Road in East Brunswick.

"The company also complied with all appropriate regulations in the hiring of these employees, including background checks. The company was surprised and disappointed that these charges have been filed against it," said Harrison. "This a good company with an exceptional, long-standing track record, which provides an incredibly valuable service to its community. It will continue to care for its patients with the utmost care."

East Brunswick police were called in to investigate; Detective Crispin Farrace of the East Brunswick Police Department and Detective Olivia Ankudowicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office led the investigation, officials said.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Farrace at (732) 390-6900, or Detective Ankudowicz at (732) 745-5547.