Cops: Woodbury aide sexually assaulted co-worker

An aide at a Woodbury center for the developmentally disabled was arrested early Tuesday, a week after he sexually assaulted a co-worker while she was bathing a patient, police said.

Nassau County police said they arrested Cerone Samuel, 28, of 168-12 127th Ave., Apt. 6C, in Jamaica, Queens, at 12:05 a.m. Tuesday for the Jan. 21 assault at the Center for Developmental Disabilities on Woods Road.

Samuel was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.

Police said the assault, which involved inappropriate touching, took place at 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 as the victim was tending to a patient.

As the aide bathed the resident, police said Samuel, who had removed his pants, pushed her to the floor and touched her inappropriately. The victim pushed Samuel away, police said, ran downstairs and called 911.

Police said Samuel fled.

The victim was not injured, according to police.

A director at the center, Debbie Patey, said Samuel had been suspended since the alleged assault was reported.

She said she could not confirm whether that suspension was with or without pay. She said Samuel had been an employee for five years.

"We are aware of it and have been working with police," Patey said of the incident. She said she could not comment further.