Brentwood Home Health Aide Indicted After Slapping Disabled 5-Year-Old On Video: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Brentwood home health aide was indicted on charges accusing him of abusing a 5-year-old child with disabilities in his care, including repeatedly and forcefully slapping the child’s chest in an incident the family captured on a bedroom camera, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Bruno Valenzuela, 34, is charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and endangering the welfare of a child stemming from accusations that he mistreated a child who is non-verbal, non-ambulatory, and requires round-the-clock care and supervision, Tierney said.

“The conduct alleged in this indictment is horrific and intolerable,” Tierney said. “This defendant allegedly abused a young child with disabilities while entrusted as an in-home health aide, a betrayal that demands accountability. My office will act decisively to protect vulnerable children and ensure justice is served.”

According to the investigation, Valenzuela worked as a home health aide for the child at the family’s home in Port Jefferson Station. On Dec. 22, 2025, the child’s father returned home from work and took over caregiving duties, the DA said. While changing the child, the father noticed red marks and bruises on the child’s chest and arms, Tierney said.

The family has cameras in the child’s room to help monitor him, and after reviewing footage, the father saw an incident from Dec. 20, 2025, the DA said. In that video, Valenzuela was changing the child’s diaper when the child began to cry, and Valenzuela began slapping the child with “full force” in the chest while telling the child to “chill the [expletive] out,” Tierney said.

The DA said this behavior occurred multiple times, and the child’s crying intensified. When the child did not calm down, Valenzuela is accused of picking the child up and squeezing him against his chest while saying, “are you gonna calm down?” Tierney said.

While holding the child, Valenzuela shook him and then repeatedly tossed him in the air, the DA said.

Valenzuela was arraigned on Feb. 5, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski on endangering the welfare of an incompetent/physically disabled person in the first degree, a class E felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor, Tierney said.

Pilewski ordered that Valenzuela be placed on supervised release with GPS conditions, Tierney said. The DA’s office said the charges are considered non-bail eligible under New York law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail.

Valenzuela is due back in court on March 5, Tierney said. He is represented by defense attorney Todd Spodek.

"This is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved. Mr. Valenzuela has served as a committed nurse for more than four years, caring for patients and supporting his community," Spodek said to Patch. "He has pleaded not guilty to the indictment, and we ask that the public allow the legal process to proceed in a fair and orderly manner.