Florida Nurse Charged with Sexually Assaulting 2 Women

Authorities say Joel Vega, a recovery room nurse, is accused of battering two patients at the hospital.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:22pm

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A 34-year-old nurse in Palm Beach County, Florida has been arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault after being accused of sexually battering two women at the hospital where he works. Detectives say they have established probable cause for the allegations and believe there may be additional victims.

Why it matters

Sexual assault allegations against healthcare workers are extremely serious, as patients should be able to trust that they will receive proper care and treatment without fear of abuse. This case raises concerns about patient safety and the vetting process for medical staff at the hospital.

The details

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, detectives started investigating after receiving two complaints that Joel Vega, a recovery room nurse at Palms Wellington Surgical Center, had allegedly sexually battered two women. During their investigation, detectives were able to establish probable cause for the allegations, leading to Vega's arrest on two counts of sexual assault.

  • On February 22, 2026, Joel Vega was arrested and charged.

The players

Joel Vega

A 34-year-old recovery room nurse at Palms Wellington Surgical Center who has been accused of sexually assaulting two women at the hospital.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that investigated the allegations against Joel Vega and made the arrest.

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What’s next

Detectives are continuing to investigate the case and urge any additional victims to come forward.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical importance of thorough background checks and monitoring of healthcare workers to protect vulnerable patients from abuse, as well as the need for victims to feel empowered to report any misconduct.