NEWARK – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that the State Board of Nursing (“the Board”) has temporarily suspended the certification of a homemaker- home health aide (“CHHA”) charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl under his supervision while working as a residential counselor in a Mercer County group home for at-risk teens.
Elijah P. Williams, 26, a former employee of Legacy Treatment Services, is indicted on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault on a victim older than 13 and younger than 16, second-degree sexual assault, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, in connection with alleged assaults against a female resident under his supervision at the teen group home, one of several run by Legacy Treatment Services around the state.
Williams, who resides in Trenton, was arrested by Robbinsville Police on October 26. In a consent order with the Board, filed on November 27, Williams agreed to the temporary suspension of his CHHA certification pending the outcome of the criminal charges against him and pending further action by the Board.
“These are serious charges, so the Board took immediate action to protect the public,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Until these allegations are resolved, the Board’s action will ensure that this defendant will have no access to patients as a certified homemaker-home health aide in New Jersey.”
According to the allegations, the assaults against the teenage girl took place between November 11, 2017 and December 24, 2017 while Williams had a legal duty for the care of the victim, although not while Mr. Williams was working in his professional capacity as a certified homemaker-home health aide. Another teen resident of the group home has alleged that Williams sexually harassed her on numerous occasions.
“The allegations against Mr. Williams raise serious concerns regarding his certification as a homemaker-home health aide, who are trusted to care for vulnerable patients in their homes, often without supervision,” said Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “If there are patients who experienced inappropriate behavior from Mr. Williams, we ask them to contact the Board of Nursing at 973-504 -6430.”
Williams, who was fired by Legacy Treatment Services after his arrest, had also worked at a Camden County teen group home run by Legacy Treatment Services, a non-profit organization that provides
Under the Interim Consent Order, Williams cannot practice, identify himself, or be employed as a CHHA. He also must surrender all copies of his CHHA certificates to the Board of Nursing.
The suspension of Williams’ CHHA certificate is temporary, pending the outcome of the charges against him. The Board of Nursing may take further disciplinary action after the disposition of the criminal charges. The surrender of his CHHA certificate is not considered an admission of liability.
The Board of Nursing is charged with regulating nursing and homemaker-home health aide services in the State of New Jersey, and making sure those who practice these professions are qualified and competent to do so.
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