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A Port Jefferson home health aide accused of abusing a disabled child has now been indicted, Suffolk County prosecutors said Feb. 5.
A grand jury indicted Bruno Valenzuela, 34, of Brentwood, on charges of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege Valenzuela was caught on home surveillance video repeatedly and forcefully slapping the chest of a 5-year-old child with disabilities while acting as the child’s home health aide. Authorities said the child has cerebral palsy and developmental delays, is non-verbal and non-ambulatory, and requires 24-hour care.
Authorities said the child’s father returned to the family’s Port Jefferson Station home on Dec. 22, and noticed red marks and bruising on the child’s chest and arms while changing him. Officials said the father later reviewed video from cameras installed in the child’s room and observed the alleged incident, which occurred Dec. 20.
Prosecutors said the footage shows Valenzuela slapping the child multiple times with full force while changing his diaper as the child cried and telling the child to “chill the [expletive] out.”
When the crying continued, Valenzuela is accused of squeezing the child against his chest and shaking him, authorities said.
Valenzuela was arraigned Thursday before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski on charges of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said.
Because the charges are non-bail eligible under New York law, Valenzuela was released under supervised conditions with GPS monitoring, according to court officials. He is scheduled back in court on March 5.
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