Princeton Man Charged With Sex Assault At Hospital

A 40-year-old hospital worker from Princeton has been charged with sexually assaulting a female patient at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, authorities said Thursday.

Richard Smith, 40, of Princeton, was charged Tuesday with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Guy Armour of the Plainsboro Police Department.

Smith, who was employed as a patient care technician, is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center on $200,000 bail, according to authorities.

He was charged during an investigation by Detective Daniel Kanaley of the Plainsboro Police Department and Detective Deon McCall of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

During the investigation it was determined that Smith lifted the hospital gown of an incapacitated 25-year-old female patient and improperly touched her. Hospital officials called police after being notified of the sexual assault.

Smith began working at the hospital in May. Prior to that, he was employed at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton, and earlier, at a private medical practice in Princeton, authorities said.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kanaley of the Plainsboro Police Department at (609) 454-4912, or Detective McCall of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3652.