HACKENSACK, N.J.—A nurse’s aide from Leonia sexually abused helpless adult patients at nursing and rehab centers in Emerson and Tenafly, authorities say.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Han Sun Cho, 55, a married nurse’s assistant from Leonia, on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact.
The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, and the Emerson Police Department, led by Police Chief Michael Mazzeo.
According to a statement from Musella’s office, on Wednesday, March 4, the Emerson Police Department received information that an elderly person who was physically helpless and a patient in a nursing home in Emerson had been sexually touched by Cho while he was working as a nurse’s aide.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was contacted and an investigation was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Emerson Police Department.
“During the investigation, it was learned that Cho had also sexually touched two other helpless patients at a nursing and rehabilitation center in Tenafly,” the statement said.
As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, March 5 Cho was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, crimes of the third degree. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court, which was scheduled for March 6.
Musella said that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He thanked the Emerson Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.